Film processing involves multiple steps; which of the following indicates the first step?

The first step in film processing is developing the film. During this initial phase, the film is immersed in a developer solution that contains chemicals designed to reduce the exposed silver halide crystals on the film to metallic silver. This process reveals the image captured on the film and is critical for generating the visible radiograph.

Following the development stage, additional steps such as fixing, washing, and drying take place. The fixing stage removes the unexposed silver halide crystals and stabilizes the image, while washing removes residual chemicals. Finally, drying prepares the film for storage and viewing. Each of these subsequent steps is vital for ensuring the longevity and quality of the radiographic image, but they occur after the developing phase, underscoring the importance of developing as the foundational first step in the film processing sequence.