Abstract: The density of a negative is measured by a photocell and log converted through a log conversion amplifier. The log converted density is then converted with a properly selected gain to a value suitable for slope control. The converted value is exponential converted to a value indicative of the amount of the light transmitting through the negative. The exponential converted value is integrated to be compared with a preselected value to determine the exposure time.

Abstract: A hand-carriable, compact color meter for indicating proper amount of adjustment of color compensation filters interposed in the light path of a color printer for the compensation of color balance of the light illuminating a film or the slide set on the printer. The color meter includes an indicating lamp, a photocell to be exposed to the light passing through the film or slide, a plurality of optical color filters selectively disposed in front of the photocell to provide the photocell with spectral sensitivities corresponding to the spectral sensitivity of the printing paper, a plurality of fixed or variable resistors selectable in correspondence to the selection of the color filter, and an electric circuit for actuating the indicating lamp in accordance with the relationship between the output of the light measuring circuit and a reference voltage commensurate with the selected one of the resistors.

Abstract: Color prints from transparencies which constitute frames or sections of universal film are made on printing paper by ascertaining the quotient or difference of integrated transmittance of the transparencies in green and red light, comparing the signal which denotes such ratio with a variable reference signal whereby the resulting comparison signal denotes the color temperature of light by which the respective transparency was exposed, and carrying out color corrections to depart from correction to neutral gray in dependency upon whether the ascertained color temperature denotes exposure in daylight or artificial light. The value of the reference signal is changed in such a way that the intensity of the ratio-designating signal which is necessary for generation of a comparison signal denoting the switchover point between the classification of transparencies into those respectively exposed by daylight and artificial light is lowered when the overall density of the transparency is lower and vice versa.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the color composition of the printing light of a photographic enlarger samples and measures the light within the intermediate diaphragm chamber of the objective lens. The light is sampled by inserting color-sensitized photoelectric transducers within the intermediate diaphragm chamber or inserting a light conducting means within the chamber between exposures for sampling and conducting the light outside of the chamber to external photoelectric transducer means, which determines the color content in any operative manner. The light conductor may be mounted on a slide together with an adjustable diaphragm for alternating inserting in the path of the printing light or the light conductor and a number of apertures of different cross-sections may be mounted on a rotary disk for optional insertion along the optical axis. The light conducting means includes a diffusing element within a light conducting and reflecting chamber.

Abstract: A photographic printer control system of the present invention separates the operation of the printer into first and second working levels. The first (or "operator") working level includes selecting the printing mode, loading or selecting one of a plurality of setup blocks, initiating printing, and applying color density button corrections. The second (or "manager") working level includes determination of printer operating parameters for each setup block, selection of automatic corrections to be applied, color balancing, calibration, and totalizing. A control panel supplies input signals which select and control operation on the first and second working levels. A security system is provided to limit access through the control panel to the first working level for all persons except authorized persons such as the lab manager.

Abstract: A color printer having three color filters is provided with a filter controller which controls the insertion time of the color filters to print a particular color such as a flesh color of a human figure into a preferable particular color of preferable color balance and density. The filter controller includes an arithmetic memory circuit which memorizes for three primary colors a relation between the color density of the particular color in the color original and the preferable insertion time of the color filters to print the particular color into the preferable particular color on the color paper.

Abstract: A photographic printer includes a system for indicating the direction of movement of the dichroic filters required to re-establish color balance whenever a setup is changed. Signals are stored for each of the plurality of setups which are determinative of the desired filter position for achieving color balance with that setup. When one of the setups is selected, a parameter is sensed which is related to the filter position. The signals generated as a function of the sensed parameter are compared to the stored signals, and an indication of the direction of movement, if any, necessary to move the filters to the desired filter positions for that selected setup is provided.

Abstract: The photographic printer of the present invention stores measured gamma values for the photosensitive medium upon which prints are to be made. The gamma values modify exposure times so that the operator button corrections always correspond to a known increment in density. When the photosensitive medium is changed, new gamma values are entered and the printer again modifies exposure times by the appropriate amount so that button correction increments remain constant despite the change in paper gamma.

Abstract: In the photographic printer of the present invention, color balancing is performed through an interactive procedure with the user. A test print of a reference film negative is made and the densities of the test print are measured and entered into the printer by the user. The printer derives and displays modified exposure times for the reference negative from the density of the reference negative, the desired reference print density values and the measured density values of the test print. The printer then performs a series of density measuring and exposure time calculating cycles during which time, if the modified exposure times differ from desired reference exposure times, the user changes the color content of the print lamp light by moving subtractive filters. The calculated exposure times are displayed so that the operator can monitor the changes in exposure time for each color channel as the subtractive filters are adjusted.

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.

Abstract: The color composition of printing light in a photographic enlarger is sampled by rotating a sampling duct between the original image holder and the objective lens. The duct has a thin elongated rectangular shape with a light diffusing aperture disposable in the printing light and with mirrored inside walls, which transmit a representative sample of the printing light to the outlet aperture, which is disposed in front of light measuring receivers. The receivers generate a signal which is processed to govern the insertion of filters in the light-mixing head of the enlarger to provide the desired color composition in the printing light. A convenient push control and actuating switch arrangement is provided to simplify insertion of the duct in the printing light before and its removal during the printing exposure.

Abstract: A microform document and information recording camera such as a microfiche or microfilm camera having a color indicating means, preferably a rotatable drum or drums indicating predominant colors which can be manually or automatically set to coincide with predominant colors being recorded and which is arranged to set the timing of a shutter to a correct exposure for the predominant color and/or to insert a filter into a path between the camera lens and the front focal plane of the lens with the possibility of controlling lighting and lighting filters arranged to illuminate a record on a record copying platen; in one embodiment a cathode ray tube can provide an alternative image source and in which case the color indicating means is automatically set when the cathode ray tube is in operation.

Abstract: In a settable matrix photographic color printer, Neutral, Green-chromaticity, and Illuminant-chromaticity correction levels and associated color rotations are adjusted by: transforming the printer correction matrix from a Red, Green, Blue coordinate system to a Neutral, Green-chromaticity, Illuminant-chromaticity coordinate system whereby the diagonal elements of the transformed matrix represent the Neutral, Green-chromaticity, and Illuminant-chromaticity correction levels, and the off-diagonal elements of the matrix represent color rotations; changing the value of the elements of the transformed matrix as desired; and transforming the thus adjusted matrix back into the Red, Green, Blue color coordinate system.

Abstract: An exposure control apparatus for use in a photographic printer determines a color correction factor based on color densities of an original. This correction factor is then utilized in customizing a correction matrix which converts signals representing density levels to signals for use in controlling exposures.

Abstract: Successive frames of a web of photographic color film are subjected to objective examination during transport through an automatic evaluating circuit which may constitute a discrete prereader or a prereader which is integrated into a copying machine upstream of the copying station. The prereader furnishes signals which represent color and/or density correction data for reproduction of those film frames which can be properly copied only with a setting of exposure controls which deviates from the average setting for copying of the majority of film frames. The objective examination of all film frames is followed by a subjective examination which is performed by an attendant who inspects at least some of those film frames whose examination by the prereader resulted in the generation of correction signals.

Abstract: An exposure control system for color printers having electro/optical means for spectral analysis of different types of original material for printing to determine different spectral coefficients for each material. Each coefficient is classified according to a reference range of values, each range being associated with a different original material. Photoelectric means are provided to determine the color densities of an original and a store stores sets of exposure parameters, each set being associated with a different original material. Automatic selection means responsive to the classification is provided to select whichever parameter set is associated with a coefficient reference range in which the coefficient has been classified during classification.

Abstract: The photographic printer of the present invention automatically derives and stores slope compensation factors which are used in subsequent printing to compensate for exposure. Reference or slope center values are stored for a reference negative and prints of various negatives are made. A print which requires correction is selected from the test prints which have been made, and the desired density corrections for that print are supplied to the printer. The density values of the negative from which the print was made are measured, and slope compensation factors are derived from the slope center values, the desired density corrections, and the measured density values. Exposures in subsequent printings are compensated based upon these derived slope compensation factors.

Abstract: An improved exposure time control for a photographic printer includes a digital processor such as a microprocessor. The digital processor receives input signals such as signals from large area transmission density (LATD) sensors, from density or color sensors, and from an operator control panel. Based upon the input signals, the digital processor derives a digital count and a clock control signal for each color channel. The exposure of each color channel is controlled as a function of the time required to change the corresponding digital count from its initial value to a predetermined final value. The changing of the digital count for each channel is caused by the digital processor in response to clock or interrupt signals from variable clocks controlled by the clock control signals. The rates at which the interrupt signals are generated are controlled by the clock control signals.

Abstract: Red, green and blue densities of a number of points on a color negative or original are measured and the measured values are plotted in a coordinate system. When the measured values of the densities are contained in a predetermined region of the coordinate system defined as the flesh color region, the measured point is determined to be of flesh color. When the number of points determined to be of flesh color is not less than 13 among 748 points sampled, for instance, the color original is determined to have a subject matter of a human figure. Then, in printing the color negative the exposure is controlled to reproduce a flesh color of desired color balance and density.

Abstract: A method of controlling the exposure in the production of photographic color prints by scanning an original line-by-line and point-by-point with three primary colors to determine the density of each primary color at each point. At each scanned point the difference between the density values of a pair of two of the three primary colors and the difference between another different pair of the three primary colors are compared with the corresponding density difference values of a reference original having a constant density distribution comprising the three primary colors. The density difference comparison forms a selection criteria to determine whether each point scanned is to be used to form density values from which the exposure values for the three primary colors are formed to control exposure of the print material. The selection criteria is as follows: ##EQU1## WHERE D.sub.i, D.sub.j and D.sub.k denote the densities of the scanned points for the primary colors i, j and k; a, b and c are constant factors; d.

Abstract: An exposure control for use in photographic color printing apparatus has transducers which are sensitized in the additive primary colors and scan discrete areas of an original to transmit appropriate signals to integrator circuits which, in turn, transmit signals for regulation of the ratio of primary colors in printing light. The transducers further transmit signals to circuits which determine the presence of one or more areas of predominant color in an original and modify the signals which are transmitted to the integrators, either by weakening the intensity or by preventing the transmission of corresponding transducer signals. Detection of areas of predominant color can result in generation of signals which are used to contribute to determination of the total amount of printing light.

Abstract: An automatic prereader for exposed and developed frames of a web of spliced-together photographic color films is preceded by a first station and followed by a second station at the first of which groups of successive frames are subjected to a first subjective examination by an attendant and at the second of which some of the frames are subjected to renewed subjective examination by the same attendant. The attendant actuates one or more pushbuttons upon examination of frames at the first station to produce signals which denote improperly oriented frames, frames which were exposed in artificial light and/or frames which are unfit for copying. Such signals are used to modify signals which are furnished by the automatic prereader.

Abstract: Apparatus for the determination of light transmissivity of film frames preparatory to the making of prints in a copying machine has a plate-like locating device for successive film frames, a light source at one side of the locating device, a group of photosensitive signal-generating elements at the other side of the locating device, and a diaphragm which is interposed between the locating device and photosensitive elements and has a hollow truncated pyramid, plate-like partitions and tubular components which confine light passing through the film frame on the locating device in such a way that a centrally located photosensitive element receives light from the entire film frame and all of the light which has passed through the central field of the frame, whereas each of the other photosensitive elements receives only that light which has passed through a single one of four L-shaped peripheral fields surrounding the central field of the frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing signals which are transmitted by the transducers of photoelectric cells scanning discrete marginal fields of square or rectangular film frames on a web of photographic film has relay-actuated switches which can connect the transducers of selected cells to each other and with the foreground and background inputs of a signal receiving circuit which is connected to the exposure controls of a copying machine or to a data carrier. The frames are examined by an attendant who energizes selected relays or several relays at a time to thereby cause the switches to transmit to the two inputs appropriate signals denoting the density and/or other characteristics of corresponding groups of neighboring marginal fields, depending upon whether the frame which is being inspected by attendant has been exposed in normal orientation, at right angles to normal orientation or upside down.

Abstract: Groups of several successive film frames of an exposed and developed photographic film are examined seriatim at an inspecting station which is located ahead of an encoding station or immediately ahead of the copying station in a photographic copying machine. An attendant examines the frames of a group at the inspecting station and actuates one or more buttons on a control panel in order to produce signals which are indicative of necessary adjustment of exposure controls for copying of certain frames. The buttons are actuated subsequent to depression of selected connecting knobs which form a row along the group of frames at the inspecting station and whose mutual spacing is less than the length of a frame; this insures that at least one knob is in register with each frame of a group at the inspecting station. The depression of a knob insures that the buttons on the control panel can transmit signals to the corresponding stage of a shift register.

Abstract: Conventionally, color films must be used with the light source or illumination for which it was designed, such as for natural daylight, fluorescent-light or tungsten-light or, if used with another light source, a suitable conversion filter must be placed over the camera lens. However, an improvement in the emulsion of the film provide an improved type of film with which good printed images are available through a mere correction during printing of the film. The present invention provides a method and a device for detecting and recording the type of illumination through detection of their spectral properties and detection of existence of a flickering noise due to an alternating voltage of the commercial power supply, and a system for an automatic film development.

Abstract: A high speed, photographic optical printer, for making duplicates of a master motion picture film, wherein the overall exposure and the color balance of the copy film can be automatically controlled and are continuously adjustable over a wide dynamic range by means of electro-optical modulators, such as PLZT ceramic devices, in the light path between the light source and the copy film, and an electric circuit connected to each electro-optical modulator for controlling their transmissivity. In another embodiment, overall exposure is controlled by controlling the electrical energy applied to a pulsed xenon source that is turned on once for each frame.

Abstract: An automatic electronic control including a microprocessor for retaining additive color printing information, means to reproduce selected such information as electrical control signals, and an optoelectronic feedback loop that includes light sources for additive printing. The control system provides color component control according to the microprocessor color information regardless of other variations and conditions within the system.

Abstract: An original bearing a multicolor image is displaced in a transverse direction passed a scanning location and a strip extending transverse to this direction on the original is irradiated with a white light for a predetermined time period. During this time period a plurality of different color-component strips are optically derived each corresponding to a respective color component of the irradiated strip and each of these color component strips is applied to a respective solid-state transducer. A row of photodiodes in the transducer charges up respective capacitors therein during the scanning time period and the charges in these capacitors are read out seriatim and fed to respective scribers which reproduce the respective color component of the image on the original on the copy sheet. Dichroic mirrors tippable about axes parallel to the irradiated strip on the original are employed to pick off the separate color components.

Abstract: Illumination for printing, including that reflected from a color negative, is sensed as to spectral content by a plurality of light-responsive sensors of mutually-exclusive spectral characteristics. That response is employed to control the spectral characteristic of the illumination for printing, as may be desired. The illumination for printing is homogeneously integrated as to intensity and spectral content prior to impinging upon the color negative by a hollow housing having both specularly and non-specularly reflective surfaces.

Abstract: Prints of film frames forming part of relatively short film strips are made by attaching to each film strip a tab, inserting the strip and the tab into an envelope which bears information denoting the order number, the number of prints to be made, the type of prints, and customer identification, shipping or delivering the envelopes to a processing laboratory where the information which is borne by the envelopes is encoded on the respective tabs, grouping the envelopes and film strips according to the nature of prints to be made and the type of film strips, reproducing successive or selected film frames of a group of strips by imaging them onto a web of photographic paper in a copying machine without splicing the film strips together, subdividing the web into discrete prints, assemblihg the prints with the associated envelopes and film strips for delivery or shipment to customers, and calculating and recording the cost of each order.

Abstract: The filter insertion settings of a colored light projector are determined by projecting the colored light through different light color windows of a test probe onto a light measuring device to provide a predetermined signal. Diaphragms on the color windows are adjusted to provide a predetermined balanced format for a predetermined balanced light condition. The filters on the projector are adjusted for a given light, such as through a color negative to be printed, to cause the aforementioned predetermined signal to be generated by the light measuring device. Different settings on different probes may be provided for different series of predetermined desirable color formats or combinations, such as for different types of color negatives -- for example, for verdant scenes or sea scapes. The optical diaphragms may be conveniently provided by adjustable screws running into the windows.

Abstract: Apparatus for reproducing a half-tone image of an original comprises a support, preferably in the form of a cylinder, for a light-sensitive record medium, an exposing head for exposing a record medium on the support, and means preferably in the form of a mechanism for rotating the cylinder and a lead screw for moving the head axially of the cylinder, to produce a relative scanning motion between the exposing head and the record medium. The exposing head includes a row of side-by-side light modulators or light sources extending in a direction such that the areas illuminated by the modulators or sources on the record medium extend in a direction across the width of a scanning line on the record medium. The area of illumination of the record medium provided by each light modulator or source varies in the said direction and is of lower intensity at its ends than at its middle and each area overlaps the areas of illumination provided by adjacent modulators or sources.

Abstract: An automatic density control device for photographic printers for sensing and correcting for a "subject failure" in a photographic negative, where the subject area of the negative is out of the optimum density ratio to the background area, which device includes a frusto-pyramidal radiation directing member having its enlarged end proximate to the negative and its small end remote therefrom and being positioned to receive the radiation from a source through the negative and having subject sensing means mounted at the central portion of the enlarged proximate end of said member to sense the radiation passing through the central subject area of the negative and also having background sensing means mounted at the diminished remote end to sense the radiation passing through the marginal portions of the negative and the marginal portions of the enlarged end of said member and including circuitry for comparing the signals produced by said subject sensing means and background sensing means and thus deriving a density

Abstract: A light valve of a film printer has vanes set by the expansion of a plurality of slides parallel to a first axis. The slides are individually actuatable parallel to a second axis transverse to the first axis in a path between a first position and a second position so that the slides expand parallel to the first axis an amount depending upon the combination of slides actuated into the second position and are movable as a unit parallel to the first axis responsive to a trim adjusting knob. A carriage mounted on the light valve is movable parallel to the first axis. A sensor individual to each slide, preferably a light source and a light detector, intersects the path of such slide to indicate whether it is in the first or second position. The carriage is coupled to the trim adjusting knob so the carriage moves parallel to the first axis as the slides are moved as a unit responsive to the trim adjusting knob, to maintain the slides between the respective sensors.

Abstract: A color filter-determining apparatus, which indicates the color component to be balanced, has two measuring circuits, each of which contains a pair of photoelectric transducers. One of the photoelectric transducers in each measuring circuit is sensitive to the same primary color and the other transducers are sensitive to different primary colors. The measuring circuits comprise resistance measuring bridges, which are complemented by resistors and diagonally supplied by separate power sources and also diagonally connected to inputs of operational amplifiers, such as sum-and-difference amplifiers.

Abstract: Three measuring channels in a photographic color printing and enlarging apparatus are utilized for determining the filter values of the primary colors. The exposure time is determined by adjusting and reading the amplification factor of an amplifier which amplifies the signal of a light-voltage transducer containing a photoelectric element, which obtains its input from a measurement of each of the three primary color components in the printing light. The light-sensitive element of the photoelectric element has a characteristic curve which is linearly related to the intensity of illumination and it is preferably a photodiode. The light impinging on the photodiode is modulated by an electromechanical light-chopping device and the measuring signal is controlled by a zero-regulator. The light-sensitive element, the zero-regulated device, the light-chopping device and filter controlling device are miniaturized and fitted into a light-measuring probe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic off-line photograph printing control system consisting of a reader and a printer. The system employs a magnetic or other similar recording means for storing correcting information of a negative film to be applied for automatically controlling printing works. Inspection and selection of each effective frame of the negative film at the stage of reading are usually performed through a projector (and a screen or through direct visual inspection of the negative film itself by the operator). Detection of effective frames of film at the stage of printing shall be carried out automatically with information marked on the negative film and information for adjustment of the exposure time supplied by the magnetic recording means upon printing. All the data concerning the negative film itself and others are processed in digital fashion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for determining the time intensity integral of the exposure of a negative in additive primary colors onto photographic paper. A plurality of discrete areas of a negative are scanned and the light transmitted through these areas is directed onto photosensitive devices each appropriately filtered to be responsive to a different one of the primary additive colors. The electric signals derived from the photoelectric device are applied to fulcrum circuits, one for each of the additive colors; the fulcrum circuits each form an analog voltage linearly corresponding in their respective colors to the fraction of the total area of the negative which has a transmissivity greater than the mean transmissivity of the whole. The analog voltages thus derived, one for each of the primary colors, are applied to control circuits that produce electrical signals to terminate the exposure in the corresponding primary color in accordance with the amplitude of the analog voltage.

Abstract: A translator comprising a light receiving unit including three kinds of photocells having spectral sensitivities to red, green and blue colors respectively for receiving light from the optical projecting system of an enlarger equipped with color correction filters, arithmetic units for calculating ratios between the outputs of the photocells by taking one of the outputs as denominators and the other two outputs as numerators respectively, comparison output setting units having their outputs determined only by the conditions of a negative previously memorized for comparison with the outputs from the arithmetic units respectively, and comparison units for comparing the outputs from the arithmetic units with the corresponding comparison outputs individually to indicate the differences therebetween, whereby the amount of color correction given only by the conditions of the negative is adjusted for the enlarger actually used for color printing.