Can I use ZoneMaster II to determinate exposure time for split grade print ?

[andrew_hoi]

Can I use ZoneMaster II to determinate exposure time for split grade print ?
If so, how to check the #00 and #5 exposure time ??


Andrew

 

[OMU]

Yes you can, this is how I do.
Take a reading from the white area and set the Zonemaster to grade 00 and adjust the time until the red light is in the upper left part of the ruler. There you have the starting point for a test strip fore the grade 00 expose.

Do the same in the black area of your photo and set the Zonemaster to grade 5, adjust the time until it’s in the dark part of the ruler – the starting point for the grade 5 test strip.

Then I make my test strip to find the expos for the grade 00 printing.
When that is settled I give the whole test strip that expose. On top of that expose I do a test strip with the grade 5 filter and with the decided time for the starting point for the grade 5 print.

 

[Dan Henderson]

I have often wondered if enlarging meters could be used for split grade printing, and if using one would be more efficient. This seems no different than how I do my test strips for split grading, except that I start every strip at 2 seconds and increase 1/2 stop for each successive step. And requires the extra steps of metering 2 areas.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I have often wondered if enlarging meters could be used for split grade printing

http://www.darkroomautomation.com/support/appnotesgmeasured.pdf

The method will work with any meter that can read in stops. I don't know if the Zonemaster is among those, however. I believe one of the RH products has a specific mode for split-grade.

 

[RH Designs]

Although I haven't fully tested it the following method should work (at least to get you to a starting point):

1. Take a reading at grade 0 of a highlight area. This is your grade 0 exposure - write it down. Take a second reading of a shadow area, and note which grey scale LED lights up. This represents how the shadows will look following the grade 0 exposure.

2. Clear the measurements, switch to grade 5, and repeat the reading of the shadow area. Write down the indicated exposure time. This represents the exposure at grade 5 which would produce the same shadow density as the grade 0 exposure.

3. Increase the exposure until the LED reaches the far right (black) end of the scale. Note the indicated exposure, and subtract from it the time you wrote down in step 2. The result is your grade 5 exposure.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[OMU]

There is always something new to learn her on APUG.
- This seems to be an easier way than I have used.
I’ll have to try this! Thanks!