The comparative evaluation of radiographic screen-film systems presents several problems from both the theoretical and the experimental points of view. From the theoretical point of view the main difficulties are related to the choice of the parameters best suited to express the "overall quality" of a system. This quantity is expressed as a product of image quality index and system sensitivity. As image quality index we assumed the signal-to-noise power ratio: this index depends in an explicit way on contrast, resolution and noise of the system. From the experimental point of view the main problem is that to measure some basic quantities, sophisticated and expensive equipment, like computer-controlled microdensitometers, is generally required. In this paper, we report the Italian Association of Biomedical Physicists Task group suggestions for measuring the basic physical parameters (with particular reference to the use of cost-effective equipment and for purchasing specification drafting). Using synthetic quality indices, the evaluation criteria of radiographic materials are directly derived from the general theory of radiographic image perception.