A radiograph that shows many shades of gray is said to have:

A radiograph that displays many shades of gray is identified as having low contrast. In radiographic terms, contrast refers to the difference in density between the light and dark areas of an image. A low contrast radiograph has a gradual transition between shades, resulting in a wider range of gray tones. This allows for more visual information to be presented, which can be helpful in identifying subtle features in the anatomy being examined, such as in periodontal disease or carious lesions.

In contrast, a high contrast radiograph would show a stark difference between dark and light areas, making it difficult to see finer details. Medium and variable contrast are terms that typically refer to radiographs with a moderate range of shades or those that might change based on exposure or processing techniques. However, the presence of many shades of gray distinctly defines low contrast, which is crucial for diagnosing conditions that require nuanced interpretation of their radiographic representation.