Abstract: A color photoprinter having a scanning light source and automatic control of contrast excursion limits and exposure level is disclosed. The printer is particularly well suited to contact printing with opaque image receiving materials. A prescan of the original photographic transparency, only, is made to determine the initial exposure level and contrast excursion limits to be expected on the opaque receiving material, and to establish the required automatic exposure and dodging control signals. The original is rescanned to generate signals which represent an unsharp, luminous, contrast controlling mask. These signals are retained in a memory, such as an image storage tube. The opaque image receiving material is then moved into intimate contact with the original for the actual exposing scan, which takes place with the unsharp luminous mask electronically superimposed on the scanning light source, in order to provide automatic contrast and exposure level control of the image during the printing step.

Abstract: Automatic control of exposure level and contrast correction for a photographic printer is disclosed. The printer uses dynamic masking achieved by modulating the intensity and velocity of a CRT scanning spot. A prescan is employed to evaluate the negative and establish exposure level and contrast grade excursion limits for the subsequent exposure. Different control systems are disclosed for contact printing and projection printing.

Abstract: Automatic incremental control of the exposure of a photosensitive image-receiving material during contact or projection printing is achieved by the use of a scanning exposing light beam, such as that from a cathode ray tube, wherein both the beam intensity and its rate of deflection can be varied in response to signals derived from a photodetector which views the scanning light after its passage through each incremental area of the transparency being reproduced.Embodiments capable of combined control of the intensity and velocity, or the dwell time, of the scanning light beam are disclosed, together with means for controlling exposure level and contrast.