Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.

Mitsuru Miyauchi

Toshiro Akira

Ryuichi Iwasaki

Shoji Nishibayashi

A photographic printing apparatus includes a reading device for reading image information from a film, and an exposure condition computing device for computing exposure conditions for exposing a photosensitive material based on the image information read by the reading device. The apparatus further includes an image information converter for converting the image information read by the reading device into image information expected to appear on the photosensitive material when the photosensitive material is exposed to the image information on the film under the exposure conditions computed by the exposure condition computing device. The image information converted by the image information converter is displayed on a monitor. The exposure condition computing device receives instructions through a control panel to correct the exposure conditions for the image information displayed on the monitor, or instructions not to correct the exposure conditions. An exposure device exposes the photosensitive material under exposure condition computed by the exposure condition computing device based on correcting instructions inputted through the control panel. The exposure device is operable in parallel with an input from the control panel to the exposure condition computing device, to exposure the photosensitive material to image information for which the exposure conditions have been corrected based on the correcting instructions from the control panel or for which non-correction instructions have been received.

Photographic printing apparatus and method

A monitor adjusting system facilitates image adjusting procedures such as color or density correction. Prior to printing an image onto photosensitive paper, the exposure settings are selected so that the printed image on the print paper will have proper colors and densities. Initial adjustments are made to the exposure setting based on the actual images being developed. To check the correctness of the changes in exposure setting for the actual images, the operator inserts a color calibration (reference) film strip which is read and displayed by the system. The film strip will display two images: (1) a reference scene of a human subject or a landscape and (2) either a density chart or a color chart. The images are used as indicators of the correctness of the adjustments made. Using the color chart separates out the effects of exposure on individual colors, while the landscape or human image simultaneously displays the effected exposure settings on a great number of color components in a complicated mixed pattern. This provides two sets and types of indicators to facilitate the correction of exposure to the point that even inexperienced operators can make corrections with relative ease.

Growing community of inventors

Wakayama, Japan

Mitsuru Miyauchi