To increase beam intensity and penetrability, the technologist should:

Increasing kilovoltage peak (kVp) is the correct choice for enhancing beam intensity and penetrability. The kVp setting is crucial in radiography because it determines the energy of the X-ray photons produced. A higher kVp results in more energetic photons, which can penetrate tissues more effectively. This increased penetration is essential for obtaining images of dense body structures, allowing for clearer visualization of anatomical details.

Additionally, as the kVp increases, the overall intensity of the beam also increases, allowing for better image quality with less radiation exposure to the patient. This balance is particularly important in ensuring that images are diagnostic while minimizing potential risks associated with radiation exposure.

Other options, while relevant in radiography, do not directly contribute to increasing both beam intensity and penetrability in the same way. Decreasing source-to-image distance (SID) can increase intensity due to the inverse square law, but it does not inherently increase the penetrability of the beam. Increasing milliamperes (mA) does increase the amount of radiation produced but does not affect the energy of the X-ray photons, which is critical for penetrability. Decreasing filtration reduces beam quality by increasing the number of low-energy photons, which can be detrimental to image quality and patient safety. Thus