So here we go again.. As @koraks suggested here https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/diy-light-meter-for-darkroom.169398/page-2#post-2204322 that I should make a densitometer.. Film photography is interesting hobby; sometime you wonder where to use a densitometer and then in next picture one is actually designing one and measuring with it. Oh well..
So I build one. A DIY densitometer, currently working only on film so no reflective light measurement - altough I have prepared for it in the parts. The prototype is 3D printed. Under the sensor sits a light box (and don't ask me why instead of just a sharp led light) with a small, maybe 1mm or a bit under aperture punched in 120 backing paper for the light to enter the film. Upper part contains TLS2691 lux sensor (can measure fractions of lux easily) and software runs on ESP32 with OLED display.
So I did some tests on underexposed negative that is difficult or impossible to print. There are some other values as well for funny reference. And log2 and log10 already calculated, dunno which I should use for "official" values.
Then here is a much more dense negative for comparison - haven't tried to print but visibly much better better (Tri-X exposed at 3200 and developed by digitaltruth times on xtol 1+1):
.. so what next? What can we learn from these values? When trying to adjust development for printing, what should the values look like? I got approximately 3 lux difference out of 5 (pure light) so I think I have enough resolution in the system or do I?
So I build one. A DIY densitometer, currently working only on film so no reflective light measurement - altough I have prepared for it in the parts. The prototype is 3D printed. Under the sensor sits a light box (and don't ask me why instead of just a sharp led light) with a small, maybe 1mm or a bit under aperture punched in 120 backing paper for the light to enter the film. Upper part contains TLS2691 lux sensor (can measure fractions of lux easily) and software runs on ESP32 with OLED display.
So I did some tests on underexposed negative that is difficult or impossible to print. There are some other values as well for funny reference. And log2 and log10 already calculated, dunno which I should use for "official" values.
Then here is a much more dense negative for comparison - haven't tried to print but visibly much better better (Tri-X exposed at 3200 and developed by digitaltruth times on xtol 1+1):
.. so what next? What can we learn from these values? When trying to adjust development for printing, what should the values look like? I got approximately 3 lux difference out of 5 (pure light) so I think I have enough resolution in the system or do I?