MetroLux II Instructions, Using the Remote Sensor, MRS

MetroLux II®

Calculating new exposure times while resizing print:


Position the MRS on the easel with the crosshairs in a bright area of the image just printed. Click NULL. The display will blink the exposure time used on the prior print. Now resize and focus the image. Position the MRS in the exact same area of the image as measured during the first NULL. Click NULL again. MetroLux II® recalculates a new exposure time, loads it into memory and returns automatically to the printing mode.


Calculating new f/stop while resizing print:

Activate MRS, mode 1. Position the MRS on the easel with the crosshairs in a bright area of the image just printed. Hit NULL. The display will blink with the exposure time used on the prior print. Remember that time. Now resize and focus the image. Reposition the MRS in the exact same area of the image as measured during the first NULL. Notice that the exposure time has changed. Watching the MetroLux II® display, adjust the lens f/stop until your old exposure time reappears on display. Hit NULL key to finish procedure and return to printing mode.


Maintaining same exposure time while resizing print:

Printers may want to use the MRS resizing features in combination with the Percentage mode on the MetroLux II®. Before activating the MRS, enter the Percent mode by hitting the MEMORY key until the % light is lit. Activate MRS, mode 1. Select bright area of image. NULL. Resize and refocus. Reposition MRS to first NULL area. Notice that the percentage has changed from 100%. Watching the MetroLux II® display, adjust lens f/stop until 100% returns.

Aborting during resizing:

You can cancel out of the MRS mode at any time prior to the second NULL by using the SELECT key. The old exposure time is saved and MRS operations are aborted.


Error Messages:

If after the first NULLing a "2LO" prompt appears, it is recommended that you select a brighter area of the projected image to measure and start MRS operations over again. If this does not eliminate the "2LO" prompt, you may want to increase the sensitivity of the MRS. This is done through your Customized Options. See "Integration Settings"



Selecting and Memorizing a Gray Tone


Tone matching can help you eliminate some test strips getting you one step closer to a final print. Before tones can be matched, one must be memorized. There are at least two methods:

Step-Wedge Method:


Make a step-wedge of grey values: Size the enlarger for a standard print size (ie. 8 x 10, 11 x 14). With no negative in the enlarger, expose a piece of paper at the appropriate f/stop for a range of times that will include your preferred printing time. Example: If 15 seconds is your preferred printing time, find the f/stop that creates a step wedge with a good range of grays from white to black at exposure times of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 27. Use the dry step wedge to record exposure times on corresponding gray steps. Save for later visual references.

Memorize tone.

With 15 entered in the MetroLux II® display, position the MRS sensor on the easel (no negative in the enlarger.) Select MRS, mode 2 by pressing SELECT key twice. Hold down the MetroLux II EXPOSE key as you press the MRS NULL key. (This is a tandem procedure: the EXPOSE key must be held as the NULL key is pressed or the calibration value will not be memorized.) After releasing both keys, the print time will blink. Press SELECT or NULL to exit the tone memorization procedure.

Print Method:


Make a good full-tone work print from a familiar negative. Viewing a dried workprint, select a gray tonal value for the MetroLux II® Remote Sensor to memorize.
Memorize tone. With the exposure time of the work print still entered in MetroLux II®,
Select MRS, mode 2 by pressing SELECT key twice. Position the MRS sensor on the easel under area of negative corresponding to chosen gray value of workprint. Hold down the MetroLux II EXPOSE key as you press the MRS NULL key. (This is a tandem procedure: the EXPOSE key must be depressed as the NULL key is hit or the calibration value will not be memorized.) After releasing both keys, the print time will blink. Press SELECT key to exit.

Matching the Memorized Tone


Always start by loading MetroLux with exposure time used during memorization. Set up new negative for printing. Select MRS, mode 2 by pressing SELECT key twice. Place the MRS sensor on image area to be gray-matched. Press NULL key. The MetroLux II® will blink with values for the areas the MRS is reading. Move the MRS to other areas and you will see the display change accordingly. When settled on a selection, press NULL. MetroLux automatically installs the new exposure time, turns the lamp off and returns to printing mode.

Error messages:

If values selected produce readings too low or too high, MetroLux II® will display "2lo" or "2hi", work with a brighter or darker area of image, or adjust the sensitivity of the MRS . (See "Integration Setting").