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ColorLine 5000
Quick Start
for Color Prints
form Negatives
Why can't things be simple? In the good old days when on-easel color analyzers first came into the marketplace they were little more than a light meter to guide the user to a filter pack for enlarging color negatives. Comparing that to the ColorLine 5000 Analyzer of today, and it's like comparing a pocket calculator to a 200mhz Pentium II computer. The ColorLine 5000 reads color or black and white filtration and exposure time simultaneously. It also:
- operates as a control panel for most enlargers
- serves as a timer for most enlargers
- provides an easy way to adjust exposure time in partial (1/30th of a stop increments) or full stops
- works as a color or b/w transmission densitometer measuring yellow, magenta and cyan and density
- programs itself (with a little help from you) to a standard gray for easy analyzing and process control
- measures and corrects for long exposure times (slope of reciprocity failure) with any print material
- reads and suggests the contrast grades and exposure times for black and white papers
- sets and measures the filtration for variable contrast black and white papers.
With all these functions, it's no wonder that some people get a little bit confused when they first try to use the ColorLine 5000. It can be compared to getting a new digital watch and not knowing which key to push and how many times to push it to set the alarm function. After a little bit of practice it becomes second nature.
All that being said, I'd like to give you a "cheat sheet" of steps to use with the ColorLine 5000 to get you started quick and easy. Maybe these will make it simpler and easier for you to use. Warning! Some of the following information will get a bit tedious, because I want to cover each and every step needed.
Selecting and Setting the Correct Channel
The ColorLine 5000 has 99 channels to choose from. Each channel can be programmed for use with color negatives (NEGATIVE), prints from slides or transparencies (POSITIVE), black and white prints on graded paper(B/W), or prints on variable contrast black and white papers (V/CONTRA).
Each channel can also be programmed to indicate which type of probe measurement method was programmed; spot measuring using the clear plastic probe cover (SPOT), partial integration using just the white plastic diffusion probe cover (PT/INIT) or fully integrated readings using both the white plastic diffusion probe cover plus the frosted diffuser under the enlarging lens (INTEG).
If you want to select a different channel to use (other than the one you are currently in);
- Press the SET key, and the channel number will begin blinking.
- Now turn the encoder wheel until the channel number you want appears in the blinking field on the display.
- Press the LAMP key to return to the READY mode.
If you want to change the characteristics of a channel, then while in the SET mode, press the START/STOP key until the field you want to change is blinking. For instance if you want to reprogram channel 20 for printing color negatives using the spot probe cover:
- Press the SET key. (The channel number field will be blinking.)
- Turn the ENCODER WHEEL until channel 20 appears in the number field.
- Press the START/STOP key one time so the material field is blinking.
- Turn the ENCODER WHEEL to display the word NEGATIVE.
- Press the START/STOP key once so the probe field is blinking.
- Turn the ENCODER WHEEL to display the word SPOT.
- Press the LAMP key to return to the READY mode.
This same technique applies to setting any field on any of the 99 channels.
You might consider setting channels 1-10 for your most often used paper (eg: color negative), channels 11 - 20 for B/W and 21 - 30 for reversal printing (if you do that). Keep a log of how each channel is configured and what each one is used for and the programmed settings. It will make life much easier than trying to remember it all.
Programming to Make Color Prints from Negatives
Having just made a "perfect" print, leave the enlarger's filter and lens settings alone, and note what time was used to make the print. For our example, let's say the time was 8 seconds. Make sure you are in the correct channel for programming this information. (The channel number itself could be anything from 1 to 99, but you will want to be in a channel that is set for NEGATIVE and probably for SPOT reading.)
- Press the ANALYZE key.
- Place the probe in the part of the picture that you want to program for, such as skin tone, blue sky, green foliage; whatever will be useful to you. Be sure to cosine correct the probe if you are using the spot cover. (Cosine correction simply means tilting the probe so that the sensing cell is looking straight into the enlarger lens, and the probe opening is in the center of the projected circle.)
- Simultaneously press the top two keys (SET and DENSI) for about 1 second and then release them. The analyzer has now memorized the color of your selected area.
- Now turn the ENCODER WHEEL until the display shows 8 seconds. (Make sure it says 8 seconds and not 8 tenths of a second.)
- Press the ANALYZE key to lock all this information into its memory. The analyzer is now programmed for whatever color was being measured by the probe's sensor, and set for the exposure time used when you made your "perfect" print.
Analyzing a "New" Color Negative
Once you have programmed the analyzer as described above, it's ready to use. After you place a "new" negative in the negative carrier just follow these easy steps.
- Press the ANALYZE key.
- Place the probe in the part of the picture that you have programmed for, such as skin tone, blue sky, green foliage, etc., and cosine correct the angle of the probe if you are using the clear spot cover. (Remember that the programmed color limits what you can analyze. If channel 20 is programmed for a skin tone, then that is all it will be useful for. A different channel will be needed for blue sky, or green foliage, etc.)
- Adjust the filter dials on your enlarger until the display on the ColorLine 5000 is nulled to zero in all three colors and the time displayed is within about 1/2 stop of the 8 seconds (or whatever time) your programmed to originally. (Later, when you have gone through the slope testing procedures, the time won't really matter. But until then, stay within 1/2 stop of the originally programmed time.)
- Press the LAMP key to turn off the analyzing function and lock in on the exposure time on the display. The enlarger lamp will remain switched on so you can finalize your composition.
- Then press the LAMP key again to switch off the enlarger lamp.
- Insert your paper into the easel and press the START/STOP key to begin the exposure.
Now that you are more familiar with the analyzer's use, take the time to program a channel to produce truly neutral gray. This will make integrated readings more accurate. You can also use it to spot read cement or other gray areas in your negative; thus making your Colorline
5000 truly easier to use and more powerful than any other analyzer for the price! Oh, and be sure to record the settings for each channel in your darkroom log.
Now you know how to quickly set up a channel for use, program it and use it to analyze a new color negative. It's basically the same for prints from slides and black and white prints. So get back into your darkroom and let these simple instructions help you make great prints right away.
Colorline 5000 Instruction Manual
If you have any questions, contact us utilizing one of the following methods:
Equipment or Processing Questions:
- Phone: Customer Service Department (734) 205-9421
e-mail: tech@jobo-usa.comRepair Questions:
- Phone: Repair Department (734) 205-9420
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- Telephone (734) 677-6989
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- P.O. Box 3721, Ann Arbor, MI 48106
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- 4401 Varsity Drive, Suite D, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
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This page last updated on 03/20/02