Convert X-ray DICOM files to JPG or PNG
Digital X-ray DICOM files have a quirk that trips up naive converters: many are stored as MONOCHROME1, where high pixel values represent dark areas (bones appear dark, air appears bright). Every radiology workstation inverts the display automatically based on the photometric interpretation tag. Generic image converters that ignore this tag produce an inverted image — what should be bright bones appears dark, and vice versa.
This converter reads the photometric interpretation tag (MONOCHROME1 vs MONOCHROME2) and inverts the pixel mapping appropriately. The exported JPG or PNG looks the same as what the radiologist saw: bones white, soft tissue and air in the correct grays.
Windowing matters too. Digital X-rays typically use a wide window spanning the full dynamic range — but the DICOM tags store the specific window the radiologist or technologist set for the study. Using those tags rather than a default window produces the clinically correct view, not a default that may obscure relevant findings.
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Questions
Why does my X-ray look inverted?
The DICOM photometric interpretation tag controls this. MONOCHROME1 images have inverted polarity by definition. If a converter ignores that tag, the output is inverted. This converter reads it.
Can I get a chest X-ray in the correct orientation?
Orientation in DICOM is described by the Image Orientation (Patient) tag. This converter outputs images as stored in the file. If the image appears rotated or mirrored, your CD may contain non-standard orientation values.
What about mammography DICOM?
Mammography DICOM is a standard sub-profile with specific tags for presentation and processing. This converter handles the basic grayscale rendering. For clinical mammography reading, a validated CAD workstation is required.