What is meant by "dynamic range" in digital imaging?

Dynamic range in digital imaging refers to the range of X-ray doses that a detector can accurately capture and represent in an image. This is crucial for ensuring that the detector can differentiate between various levels of exposure, which is essential for producing high-quality images that accurately reflect the subject being imaged. A wide dynamic range means that the detector can effectively handle different exposure levels without losing detail in the highlights (overexposed areas) or shadows (underexposed areas).

This attribute is especially important in radiography, where varying levels of tissue density must be accurately captured to facilitate diagnosis. A detector with a limited dynamic range may either saturate on high exposures or produce too much noise in lower exposures, affecting diagnostic accuracy.

The other options describe different aspects of imaging but do not pertain to the fundamental concept of dynamic range. For instance, processing speed and image brightness are not directly related to how well a detector can manage various exposure levels, and color reproduction is more relevant to color imaging rather than the grayscale imaging typical in radiographic practices.