Abstract: A photographic printer includes a sensor system for measuring the optical characteristics of each photographic film frame to be printed at a plurality of defined areas. Based upon the measured optical characteristics, the printer identifies and classifies the film frames into various types of scenes. The exposures used in printing each film frame depend upon the classification of that film frame. A user-selectable control permits the user to vary the sensitivity of the classification of one or more of the types of scenes in essentially a linear fashion.

Abstract: An automatic photographic printer includes a sensor system for providing density signals indicative of measured optical density of a photographic film at a plurality of defined areas of the film. Photographic films containing landscape type scenes, snow/beach type scenes, and other scenes which might be incorrectly identified as subject density failures, are identified. The identified films are excluded from receiving a subject density failure exposure correction, while the remaining films are subjected to an automatic subject density failure exposure correction which is derived from the density signals.

Abstract: An automatic system for classifying photographic negatives containing snow or beach scenes measures the red, green, and blue densities of the negative to be printed. Signals indicative of red, green, and blue exposure times are derived from these measured densities, and the signal indicative of the blue exposure time is compared to the signals indicative of the red and green exposure times. The results of this comparison indicate whether a snow or beach scene is present. To determine the amount of density correction, if any, the densities of the negative at a plurality of points are measured. The extent of the density correction is determined by the number of points whose density is within a predetermined interval of the maximum density measured from any one of the points.