Image enhancement by chemical intensification

This report covers the use and evaluation of a quinone-thiosulfate chemical intensifier to improve image characteristics in photographic negatives of low density and contrast. The report concludes that: (1) Apparent emulsion speeds of aerial films can be increased by a factor of as high as two with quinone-thiosulfate intensification as a post-processing treatment. (2) Quinone-thiosulfate intensification may improve the resolution of low density negative imagery, but not that of normal negatives. (3) As both a contrast and emulsion speed enhancing process, quinone-thiosulfate may greatly improve the usefulness of imagery to be used with image data-extraction devices. (4) The opportunity is presented, through intensification to save unique images with inadequate contrast and density, and to tailor densities and contrasts to fill a variety of human and machine needs. (5) Further, more definitive work is required to define the exact methods and criteria for applying this intensification method to actual problems requiring improved contrast and/or resolution.