How can digital images be improved after they are acquired?

Digital images can be improved after acquisition primarily through the use of software tools designed for contrast adjustment and noise reduction. These software tools allow operators to manipulate the image data effectively, enhancing features that may be difficult to discern due to poor initial capture conditions or inherent noise from the imaging process.

Contrast adjustment can enhance the visibility of specific areas within the image, making it easier to identify critical details. Noise reduction techniques help eliminate random variations in brightness or color that can obscure important features, such as anomalies or structural details in the subject being examined. This process optimizes the images for better interpretation by radiologists and technicians.

The other choices involve methods that would not yield improvements or are not applicable to digital imaging practices. For instance, removing original data would lead to the loss of potentially valuable information rather than enhancing the image. Film development techniques are specific to traditional film-based imaging and are not relevant to digital images. Similarly, re-exposing images to radiation does not serve as a method for enhancing the quality of the already captured digital image, but rather introduces unnecessary risks and can potentially degrade image quality further.