Sorry, another Analyser question

For those that use the Analyser Pro, I have a very basic question. Hopefully, my AP will be arriving from the UK in a week or so. I ordered yesterday via their website but they are on holiday until Tuesday.

In getting to have my initial experience flow smoothly, I downloaded the instruction booklet but it is a little confusing to me. I might be reading or interpreting the basic rule wrong.

On page 10, under the section 7 (making your first print), no 2, it states to position the sensor in a shadow (clear negative) but shows a highlight LED result. Should it be placed in a dark area of the projected image corresponding to a dense portion of the negative in an important (print) highlight area of the negative?

On page 17 under section 12 (more advanced metering), no.2, it states density measurements should be made from the brightest negative area (corresponding to the dark areas of the print) first.

My question is should the first measurement on the projected image be from the bright area (deep shadow on the print) leading to a LED indicator on the dark side of the grey scale or should the first reading be from a dark area on the projected negative image (highlight on the print) leading to a LED indicator on the light side of the grey scale?

Light area, dark area and a third reading for middle grey. In that order.

Hans

When you mean LIGHT area, do you mean light area on the projected negative corresponding to the shadow of the print or LIGHT area on the print, so I should take the reading from a dark area on the projected negative? This is the part I am confused about.

Yes, light on the easel as projected.

Hans

The apparent "confusion" arises because with only one reading the device can't know what you are measuring - shadow or highlight. (So by convention it always illuminates the white LED.)
It's only when you take two measurements, can it say "ahah!, I now know the negative's range.

Laurence,
I own an analyser Pro, and often, in the rush or high image creation process, I reverse the measurements I take for the negative being printed.
The first LED lighted is always at the white end of the scale, but when you make the second measure, the device light up the correct pair of LEDs.
IMHO the order of measure is irrelevant. One is more logical to us than the other (make the exposure from the lightest (darkest negative zone) part of the image, adjust contrast to get correct shadow detail) but the analyser Pro don't care.
Maybe Richard Ross will tell us the truth if he reads this !

Thanks, your responses make it much clearer. I am so excited about getting my Analyser Pro. How long does it take to ship from the UK to New Jersey?

Lawrence Chai said:

Thanks, your responses make it much clearer. I am so excited about getting my Analyser Pro. How long does it take to ship from the UK to New Jersey?

Click to expand...

Hi Lawrence

Thanks for the order, you should get it by the end of next week.

Measurement order is irrelevant unless you're interested in the log.D density readings which appear briefly after each measurement before the exposure time and grade are displayed. If you want them to be meaningful you need to take the first reading from the brightest area on the baseboard image (deepest shadow) to set the 0.00 log.D point. This will initially light the highlight LED (the Analyser has to put it somewhere, and exposure is largely determined by the highlights); a subsequent highlight reading will correct the exposure display and move the first reading towards the black end of the scale.