What causes a digital image to be too light?

A digital image appears too light primarily due to underexposure. Underexposure occurs when the detector does not receive enough radiation during the imaging process, leading to insufficient information being captured in the image. The resulting exposure level is too low, which manifests as a light or faded appearance in the final digital image. In radiography, achieving the correct exposure is critical to ensure that all necessary details are clear and identifiable in the diagnostic image. If an image is too light, it can hinder the ability to accurately assess and diagnose conditions, thus highlighting the importance of proper exposure techniques.

The other options, while related to image quality, do not directly result in a light image. Overexposure would lead to a dark image, incorrect positioning could distort the view but wouldn't necessarily alter the lightness unless it contributed to underexposure, and defective software might lead to various imaging issues but wouldn't specifically cause an image to be too light.