I need some help...
I'm not an expert in printing, and usually use grade 2 paper for all of my prints
In determining the "proper" exposure, I use test strips with the same section projected - i.e. I have a crude DIY test strip printer, in which I slide the test strip for each new exposure, exposing always the same part of the negative... But, it takes long, and I never get it right with the first strip.
So, being inclined to use all kinds of gizmos, I thought about Ilford EM10 exposure meter, but it's not readily available where I live. Since I already have a color analyzer (Philips PCA 060), which I never used, since I don't do color, only B&W, I thought that perhaps this could be used to speed up the process of nailing the "correct" exposure for the straight print.
Trouble is, I don't know how to use it. It has an on/off switch, and switches marked with yellow, red and blue dots, and dials marked "sec", and "Y", "M" and "C" - and, naturally, an analog scale ("balance") with zero in the middle and +/- scale going to 10 on each side.
I know I'm supposed to get a "perfect print" and use it as a reference point - but how? Ignore the Y/M/C dials and use only seconds for "zeroing", or what?
In short, I'd be more than grateful if anyone would be so kind to help me in this regard. I don't know if it's even practical - using a color analyzer to determine B&W print exposure on a fixed grade paper (grade 2). I suppose it would be useful for VC paper, but I don't use those...
Is this idea practical at all?
Thanks in advance,
Denis
I'm not an expert in printing, and usually use grade 2 paper for all of my prints

In determining the "proper" exposure, I use test strips with the same section projected - i.e. I have a crude DIY test strip printer, in which I slide the test strip for each new exposure, exposing always the same part of the negative... But, it takes long, and I never get it right with the first strip.
So, being inclined to use all kinds of gizmos, I thought about Ilford EM10 exposure meter, but it's not readily available where I live. Since I already have a color analyzer (Philips PCA 060), which I never used, since I don't do color, only B&W, I thought that perhaps this could be used to speed up the process of nailing the "correct" exposure for the straight print.
Trouble is, I don't know how to use it. It has an on/off switch, and switches marked with yellow, red and blue dots, and dials marked "sec", and "Y", "M" and "C" - and, naturally, an analog scale ("balance") with zero in the middle and +/- scale going to 10 on each side.
I know I'm supposed to get a "perfect print" and use it as a reference point - but how? Ignore the Y/M/C dials and use only seconds for "zeroing", or what?
In short, I'd be more than grateful if anyone would be so kind to help me in this regard. I don't know if it's even practical - using a color analyzer to determine B&W print exposure on a fixed grade paper (grade 2). I suppose it would be useful for VC paper, but I don't use those...

Is this idea practical at all?
Thanks in advance,
Denis