JPH09236877A - Spatial light modulator device for improving photographic printing machine so that electronic image is printed - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive, attachable and detachable spatial light modulator device constituted so that an electronically recorded image can be printed on a photographic paper by using the conventional photographic printing machine of a film. SOLUTION: When the electronic image is printed, the spatial light modulator device 20 is inserted in the negative film holder 18 of the conventional photographic printing machine 10 instead of the photographic negative film. The device 20 is provided with a spatial light modulator so as to modulate light from a lamp house 12 by an electronic image signal received from a computer 24 and generate the carrying light of the image. Then, the photographic paper is exposed through a lens 26 and a shutter 28. In such a way, the electronic image formed by an electronic camera and the like is made to be a hard copy in the same way as a photographic film.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to spatial light modulator devices used in combination with a photographic printer, and more particularly to a negative holder of a photographic printer instead of a photographic negative. , A spatial light modulator device by which the photoprinter can print an electronic image on the photographic paper therein.

[0002]

Photographic printing machines are used in combination with film developing machines at photofinishing centers. This film processor is used to develop a latent image on conventional film into a photographic negative. Next, the photographic negative is placed on a photographic printing machine, the negative is illuminated with a backlight, and image-bearing light is projected onto the photographic paper to expose the photographic paper. The image projected on the photographic paper selectively reduces or enlarges the negative image by selecting the lens system between the photographic negative and the photographic paper.

In such a photographic printing machine, a new negative image is to be formed on the photographic paper every time, and this negative is mechanically or physically operated to an appropriate position so that the projection image exposes the photographic paper. Must be aligned with the face. Such physical manipulations can be expensive in terms of production time. Large photofinishing labs, known as macrolabs, operate negatives automatically, but the systems themselves cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and are therefore too expensive and expensive to use.

The advent of electronic image cameras has created a need to enable users of electronic still cameras to print electronically recorded images on photographic paper. This is currently accomplished by printing this electronically recorded image through a computer to a film recording device connected to it. The problem is that it is too expensive to buy computers and film recorders that easily print electronically recorded images from electronic still cameras.

For many conventional film photofinishing centers, minilabs, and macrolabs worldwide, users of electronic still cameras either bring electronic image storage media to the photofinishing center or send electronic image signals to them. It is desirable to be able to print the image recorded on the photographic paper. This would allow the images produced by the electronic still camera to be printed on photographic paper, producing conventional hardcopy photographic images in a manner similar to conventional film.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adapter which allows conventional film photoprinters to print electronically recorded images.

Another object of the present invention is to easily insert an adapter into a photo printing machine such as a minilab to convert the minilab into an electronic image printing system, and then to easily remove the adapter to replace the minilab with a conventional film photograph. It is to provide an adapter that can be returned to the finishing center.

Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of physical manipulation required to place a photographic image on photographic paper.

Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of individual users of electronic still cameras to make hard copy photographic images.

It is a further object of this invention to inexpensively retrofit a conventional film photofinishing system to record electronic image signals on photographic paper.

These and other objects of the invention include:
It will be obvious and will appear below.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above and other objects provide a highly versatile apparatus for retrofitting a conventional photographic printer to record electronic image signals on photographic paper. Achieved by This device includes computer means, and a spatial light modulator device which, when using a conventional photofinishing system to print an electronically recorded image,
Detachably replaces the photo negative of this photo finishing system.

In non-electronic image printing operations, this conventional photofinishing system operates to emit a beam of light through an opening in a negative holder that holds a photographic negative on which an image has been recorded. This light beam is then transformed by the recorded image to produce image bearing light. The image-carrying light passes through the optical system, and the optical system manages the lens system for forming the image-carrying light and the amount of time for projecting the image-carrying light on the photographic paper to take a photographic image. There is a shutter that makes.

In electronic image printing operations, the photographic negative is removed and replaced with a spatial light modulator device which receives the electronic image signal from the computer means.

The computer means reads electronic image data from an electronic image storage medium or receives electronic image data from an external source, such as a remote computer network. The computer means then processes the electronic image signal and transmits it to a spatial light modulator device including an adapter and spatial light modulator means.

The adapter is constructed so that it can be removably and replaceably inserted in the negative holder of a conventional photographic printer instead of a photographic negative, thereby converting between electronic and non-electronic image printing operations. It can be so.

The spatial light modulating means is surrounded by an adapter and is electrically connected to the computer means. In response to the electronic image signal transmitted from the computer means, an image is applied to this spatial light modulating means to produce a transparent image thereon. This spatial light modulator changes the beam by selectively transmitting a high-intensity light beam to create image-bearing light. This image-carrying light passes through the lens system and then reproduces the image on the photographic paper.

[0018] In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method according to the apparatus described above. The above and other aspects of the present invention are apparent in the drawings and the following description.

These and other objects of the invention, as well as its various features, as well as the invention itself, will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0020]

While the present invention is useful in a wide range of photographic printing systems and can be implemented in several different forms, it is advantageous for use in connection with a minilab photographic printer. While this is a recommended embodiment and is described there, it should be considered that this embodiment is illustrative and not limiting.

FIG. 1 shows a minilab photographic printer for use with the present invention. Minilab 10 is a term commonly used in the industry to refer to a small semi-automatic photofinishing center having a photoprocessor and a photoprinter. The invention can be used by amateurs whose photoprinters are not automated as well as by highly automated macrolabs without impairing the invention.

In the illustrated minilab 10, there is a lamp house 12 for housing a light generator. Above the lamp house is a cut filter 14 that determines the color to be imaged on the photographic paper. The light from the lamp house 12 passes through the cut filter 14 and then through the light tunnel 16 to the negative carrier 18, where the sides are mirrored to optimize light transmission.

Negative carrier 18 is designed for use with conventional photographic negatives and allows the photographic negative to be inserted into the negative carrier and held securely in place while light of various colors passes through.

Negatives are not made in electronic image processing. Instead, the image is captured and stored as an electronic image signal.
Therefore, this electronic image signal is converted into a spatial light modulator (hereinafter referred to as "SL
M ") and inserts it into the negative carrier 18 instead of the photographic negative.

The SLM device 20 has information from the computer 24 into which a driver card (not shown) is inserted. This SLM device 20 typically accepts one of the standard television signals or a VGA signal. In the preferred embodiment, the driver card is a VGA display card well known in the VGA signal transmission art.

The computer 24 may be any of a variety of sources including, but not limited to, electronic still cameras, magnetic or optical storage, or direct transmission from electronically transmitted signal sources. Can receive the electronic image signal of. The computer 24 processes this information and transmits the processed image signal to the SLM device 20 via the cable 22. Depending on the content of the processed image signal, the SLM device 20 selectively changes the transmittance of each pixel of the pixel matrix, thereby forming an image thereon, and the image-bearing light records the image recorded on the SLM device 20. To selectively pass through the portion of the SLM device 20 that provides

The image-bearing light that has passed through the SLM device 20 is
It then enters lens system 26, which determines the degree of enlargement or reduction of this image based on the lenses contained in this lens system 26. This lens system may have a single lens or a plurality of lenses depending on the implementation method of the photo printer.

A shutter unit 28 above the lens system 26
Controls the exposure time. Shutter unit 28 is selectively open to allow image-bearing light to expose the photographic paper through a shutter therein. A photographic paper mask 30 shown above the shutter unit isolates the individual frames of the photographic paper so that exposure is limited to a given area of the photographic paper.

The individual components of the minilab 10 are shown in more detail in FIG. 2 and will be described in detail with continued reference to FIG.

The light generator in the lamp house 12 is a lamp 32, which is often a halogen type high intensity lamp. To reduce the heat generated by the lamp 32 from reaching the next part of the system, a piece of heat reflective glass 34 is above the lamp 32.

The light from the lamp 32 then passes through the three dichroic filters 36 arranged in series. These three dichroic filters, which give yellow, magenta, and cyan, can be individually adjusted by the adjustment knob 38, and are adjusted once each time the lamp 32 is changed. Such adjustments are necessary to compensate for the individual color characteristics of lamp 32.

The other set of color filters, the cut filter 14, is above these dichroic filters 36. The yellow filter 40 may be selectively moved into the optical path above the dichroic filter 36. Magenta filter 42
And the cyan filter 44 can also be selectively moved into this path to project individual color or light of two or three colors onto the photographic paper.

The colored light transmitted through these filters is guided by the mirror tunnel 16 this time. This mirror tunnel 16
Is essentially a long rectangular box lined with light-reflecting mirrors, in which almost all light entering the mirror tunnel 16 exits from the top of the mirror tunnel 16.

The colored light emitted from this mirror tunnel 16 is
It then passes through a diffuser plate 46 which redistributes the light to form a uniform light distribution over the area of the spatial light modulator or negative.

The colored light emitted from the top of the diffuser plate 46 then passes through the negative carrier 18, which has a central aperture for passing the light to hold the photographic negative in a position above the aperture. There are opposing clamps for. Now that the photographic negative has been replaced by the SLM device 20 of the present invention, the colored light passes through the aperture and illuminates the image forming area of the SLM device 20, which selectively selects the portion of the colored light. To transmit the image-bearing light.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the negative carrier 18 is replaced by an SLM carrier and the SLM is
The carrier performs a function similar to that of the negative carrier 18, the size of its opening being larger than the standard negative carrier 18 but smaller than the area of the diffuser plate 46. This allows more light to enter the SLM device 20, so the dimensions of this device can be adjusted to standard film formats, eg 3
It can be larger than the 5 mm negative dimension.

The light transmitted through the SLM device 20 produces image-bearing light, which in turn includes a lens system 26 including a magnifying lens 48.
to go into. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that magnifying lens 48 will
It will be appreciated that it can be replaced with a magnification lens and can be used to reduce, transmit or magnify the image.

The magnifying lens 48 determines the degree of magnification of the image projected on the printing paper. The standard set of lenses for a conventional photo printer is a photographic negative of 8.9 mm x 12.
7 mm, 10.2 mm x 15.2 mm, 12.7 mm x
There is a lens for magnifying to a standard photographic size of 17.8 mm. With the degree of magnification, the lens itself, the negative,
In this case, the selection is made according to the thickness and size of the SLM device 20. If the SLM device 20 is thick or of a different size than conventional photographic negatives, the magnifying lens 48 must be replaced or an additional lens must be added to adjust for the dimensional difference. To change the thickness, replace the lens and use the negative and S
Adjust the focal plane displacement between the LM devices 20.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the thickness and dimensions of the SLM device 20 are chosen so that standard lens sizes are acceptable, ie, the thickness and dimensions are about the same as those of photographic negatives.

In another embodiment, the thickness and dimensions are chosen to ensure that most standard lenses are utilized. For example,
8.9 with standard 10.2mm x 15.2mm lens
A print size of 1mm x 12.7mm can be created,
With a lens of mm x 17.8 mm, 10.2 mm x 15.2
Choose thicker or larger SLM devices for mm print size.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the magnifying lens 48 and the SLM device 20 are made into one optical system. Inserting this optics 26 automatically converts the minilab into an electronic imaging lab without additional modification. In the third embodiment of the present invention, the color filters 40, 4
2, 44 are also included in one optical system as described above.

In either case, the image bearing light that has passed through the magnifying lens 48 is then presented on the shutter 52. The shutter 52 is housed in the shutter unit 28 and connected to the solenoid 50. The solenoid 50 consists essentially of a coil and a metal core that is free to slide along the coil axis under the influence of a magnetic field, and a shutter 52.
Is a device used as a switch for selectively opening and closing. Thus, this shutter 52 controls the amount of image-bearing light that passes. The time that the shutter 52 remains open determines the exposure time of the image-bearing light on the photographic paper 54.

The photographic paper 54 is held within the photographic paper mask 30 and limits the image bearing light to produce a positive image in the selected area on the photographic paper.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention is an SLM device 2
0, the magnifying lens 48, and the shutter unit 28 are formed in one optical system. This time, computer 24
Since the exposure time can be controlled, the image processing process can be largely controlled.

In practice, the computer 24 supplies the electronic image signal to the photoprinter 10 in three different stages.
The original electronic image signal is divided into three color planes corresponding to red, green and blue. Put the red side on the SLM device 20,
Is exposed for a desired time through the SLM device 20, the magenta filter 42, and the yellow filter 40. Then, only the red-sensitive layer of the printing paper 54 is exposed.

Next, the green surface is applied to the SLM device 20,
Use the photographic paper 54 for this SLM device 20, yellow filter 4
Exposed through the 0 and cyan filters 44. In this way, both the red-sensitive layer and the green-sensitive layer of the printing paper 54 are exposed.

Finally, the blue side is applied to the SLM device 20. The printing paper 54 is exposed through the SLM device 20, the cyan filter 44, and the magenta filter 42.

Now that all three layers of photographic paper have been exposed in red, green and blue, the photographic paper is ready for chemical treatment.

Now referring to FIG. 3, the negative carrier 1
8 and SLM device 20 are shown in detail. SLM
The device 20 includes an adapter 58 and an SL as main components.
There is M60. The adapter 58 is designed to mechanically interconnect with the negative carrier 18 and is held securely in place during photographic imaging. The adapter 58 has opposed grooves 64 that fit from the thickness of the SLM device 20 to the approximate thickness of a photographic negative. This is the SLM
An adapter 58 is provided on the negative carrier 18 so that the device 20 can be removed and replaceably inserted into the photoprinter 10.
To allow free passage. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of other mechanical interconnection devices can be utilized for different types of photo printers.

In this preferred embodiment, the SLM 60 is
An active matrix spatial light modulator, which is a liquid crystal matrix of individual pixels that can each change between a light transmitting state and a light blocking state in progressive steps called gray levels. The SLM 60 has a matrix of 1024x1440 pixels with 256 gray levels each, providing the same resolution as high definition television. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that SLs with more or less pixels
It will be appreciated that exposures can be made with the M matrix and with more or less gray levels without affecting the invention itself, only by affecting the appearance of the final printed image.

The number of pixels in the matrix depends on the characteristics of the available SLM, but the gray level also depends on the driver from computer 24. In the preferred embodiment, a commercially available 8-bit VGA driver board is used,
It produces 256 gray tones on the output of the SLM 60. These gray tones are non-linearly separated with respect to the numerical representation of the digital input to the VGA driver board. This non-linear relationship is suitable for viewing but not for printing because the eye characteristics are different from those of photographic paper because they are designed for direct display to the human eye. Especially SLM
A VGA driver board is generated to drive the
Converting 6 evenly spaced levels to 256 non-uniformly spaced optical densities on the photographic paper results in poor print quality.

In order to convert this system to high quality prints, at least 8 bits, or 2 ⁸ = 256, evenly spaced optical densities must be produced on the photographic paper. Mapping the 8-bit output with a non-linear function presents multiple maps at the input points between integer input values. Rounding the input value reduces print quality and should therefore be avoided. Instead, linearly spaced exposure values of 10 to 12 bits are used to compensate for the non-linear characteristics of photographic paper. SLM with 8-bit VGA board
To drive 60 to obtain linearly spaced exposure values of 10 to 12 bits, multiple exposures are used.

The simplest form of multiple exposure is a binary exposure. For example, 10 bits per color requires 10 film exposures per color plane. Each successive exposure would have to be twice as long as the previous exposure. Only a 1-bit (ie 2 gray level) SLM system is needed, but unless you increase the shutter speed to get the shortest exposure time,
Print speed is slow. This may require changing shutters on the photo printer.

In order to increase the printing speed without changing the shutter, the number of bits exposed at a given time may be increased. However, multiple exposures other than binary require a linear exposure system. The nonlinear characteristic of the SLM 60 can be linearized by applying a look-up table (hereinafter referred to as "LUT") to the digital image signal to obtain a linear exposure system.

In this preferred embodiment, print speed is important and the shutter speed cannot be increased above a certain maximum speed without changing the shutter, but 2 per color.
Only one exposure is used, ie 5 bits each are used to obtain 10 equally spaced exposure levels. The linearization LUT in front of the 8-bit VGA board was programmed so that 5 bits (equal number 2 ⁵ = 32) at the input of the composite exposure system corresponded to 32 linearly spaced transmissions of the SLM. There is. This is,
Creating a linear exposure system.

When printing, first the 5 least significant bits are used to make the first exposure. Subsequently, the next 5 bits, or most significant bit, are added to the exposure system. This second exposure lasts 2 ⁵ = 32 times longer. In that way, a 10-bit resolution linear exposure system is obtained with an 8-bit non-linear SLM system and two exposures per color.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the above description that other combinations can be used as long as the sum of the exposure times and the exposure bits is 10. For example, 5 binary exposures followed by 5 binary exposures can be used.

Surrounding the active area of the SLM is a rim 62 of matrix electronics that manages the individual addressing of pixels within this matrix. This matrix electronics is then controlled by computer 24. The cable 22 is held in place on the adapter by a duct 66.

The SLM device 20 slides into the negative carrier 18 and the groove 64 provides the clamping portion 7 of the negative carrier 18.
The light passing through the bottom of the zero aligned with the aperture 68 and passing through the aperture 68 is made to produce image-bearing light through the active area of the spatial light modulator 60.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Accordingly, the above examples should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims rather than by the above description, and thus the equivalents of the claims. All changes that come within the meaning and range of the product are intended to be included in the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photographic printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of individual parts of the photoprinter system of FIG.

3 is an exploded view of the negative carrier and the spatial light modulator device according to the invention shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Photographic Printing Machine 14 Color Filter 18 Negative Holder, Negative Carrier 20 Adapter, SLM Device Means 24 Computer Means 26 Lens 28 Shutter 32 Light Source 40 Color Filter 42 Color Filter 44 Color Filter 54 Photosensitive Medium 58 Housing 60 Spatial Light Modulating Means 68 Opening

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive medium (54) for producing an electronically produced image.
A device for adapting a photographic printing machine (10) for printing on, the photographic printing machine (10) comprising:
In the photographic image mode, a light beam is emitted through the opening (68) of the negative holder (18) holding the photographic negative on which the image is recorded, and then this light beam is converted by this recorded image to carry the image-carrying light. Computer means (24) for transmitting the electronic image signal in a device for producing an image and exposing the image on a photosensitive medium (54) by passing the carried light through an optical device (26); An adapter (20) for switching the photo printing machine (10) to an electronic image mode by inserting the photo printing machine (10) in a negative holder (18) in a removable and replaceable manner in place of the photo negative, and the adapter (2).
0) and electrically connected to the computer means (24) to selectively transmit and convert a light beam to produce the image bearing light and to generate an applied electronically generated image. A device comprising spatial light modulator means (60) for exposing on a photosensitive medium (54). 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said spatial light modulator means (60) is a liquid crystal spatial light modulator having a matrix of individually addressable pixels. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the individually addressable pixels are selectable to image at least two gray levels. 4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said computer means (24) further comprises time modulation means for transmitting a large subset of data representative of said electronically produced image, A system in which many subsets are divided by gray levels and the exposure time for each successive subset is variable for each successive subset. 5. The adapter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the computer means (24) further applies a conversion function to the electronic image signal to provide the spatial light modulation means (60).
Or an adapter including linearization means for compensating for the non-linearity of the photosensitive medium (54). 6. A system for printing an image on a photosensitive medium (54) comprising a light source (32) for projecting a light beam; a negative carrier (18) having an opening (68) for passing the light beam. ;
Computer means (24) for transmitting an electronic image signal representing the image; spatial light modulator (SLM) means (electrically connected to the computer means (24) for selectively transmitting the beam ( 20) means for projecting the image applied to the SLM device means (20) as image bearing light as directed by the electronic image signal; as well as sensitizing this image bearing light. A system comprising optical means (26, 28) for directing onto a medium (54) and for managing the amount of time this image bearing light is presented to form a photographic image. 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said negative carrier (18) is changeable depending on the film format of the negative to be inserted in said negative carrier (18), said opening (68) being said film format. A system whose size changes according to 8. A system according to claim 6 wherein said SLM device means (20) is adapted to be interference fit within said negative carrier (18); and said housing (58). A spatial light modulating means (60) surrounded by 58), in optical alignment with the opening (68) of the negative carrier (18) and in electrical communication with the computer; Means for selectively changing the matrix of the image to produce a negative of this image thereon, thereby selectively changing the high intensity light beam passing therethrough to form the image on the photosensitive medium (54); System including. 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said spatial light modulator means (60) is a liquid crystal spatial light modulator having an active matrix of individually addressable pixels. 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the individually addressable pixels can form one of at least two gray levels each. 11. The adapter according to claim 8, wherein said computer means (24) further applies a conversion function to the electronic image signal to provide non-linearity of said spatial light modulating means (60) and photosensitive medium (54). An adapter including linearization means for compensating for the sex. 12. A system according to claim 6, wherein said adapter is combined with said optical means (26, 28) to create a single optical system electrically connected to said computer means (24). A system for imaging the electronic image signal onto the photosensitive medium (54). 13. The system according to claim 12, wherein
The optical system further includes color filter means (14; 40, 42, 44) electrically connected to the computer means (24) for selectively changing the color of the light beam, the photosensitive medium ( 54) A system that allows a color image to be projected on. 14. The system according to claim 6, further comprising color filter means (14) arranged between said light source (32) and said photosensitive medium (54) for selectively changing the color of said light beam. 40, 42, 44). 15. The system according to claim 14, wherein
A system wherein the computer means (24) transmits to the adapter a different electronic image for each color of the light beam. 16. A light source projects image-bearing light through an opening (68) in a negative carrier (18) onto a first lens system (26), which lens system controls this image-bearing light by a first shutter system. Photosensitive medium for a period of time (54)
An adapter (20), as presented above, which enables a conventional film printer (10) to print electronic image signals from a computer, the negative carrier (18) being in optical alignment with said adapter (20). )
A spatial light modulating means (60) adapted to be fixedly secured therein, the spatial light modulating means (60) being in electrical communication with the computer, on the spatial light modulating means (60) for producing an image. An electronic image signal is applied to the photosensitive medium (54) to selectively pass the image-bearing light therethrough.
An adapter that reproduces the above image. 17. The adapter (20) according to claim 16, wherein said spatial light modulating means (60) further comprises optical variation between said spatial light modulating means (60) and a conventional photographic negative. An adapter including a second lens for compensation. 18. The adapter (20) according to claim 17, wherein said second lens cooperates with said first lens (26) to focus image bearing light onto a photosensitive medium (54). A working adapter. 19. The adapter (20) according to claim 16, wherein the second lens focuses the image-bearing light onto the photosensitive medium (54) after removing the first lens (26). Adapter that works like a. 20. The adapter (20) according to claim 16, wherein the spatial light modulating means (60) further comprises a second shutter having a first position and a second position, the first position being essentially. All the image-bearing light is the photosensitive medium (54)
Of the second shutter,
Functioning to move to a position to expose the photosensitive medium (54) to the image bearing light and then return to the first position,
And an adapter that acts to function between the first and second positions when the first shutter is fully open. 21. The adapter (20) according to claim 16, wherein the spatial light modulating means (60) further subdivides the electronic image signal, and the first group of the least significant 6 bits of the electronic image signal is subdivided. And exposing the photosensitive medium (54), and then transmitting a second group of higher order bits of the electronic image signal to expose the photosensitive medium (54), wherefrom the first group and the second group. Exposure of the photosensitive medium (5
4) An adapter including time modulation means for increasing the number of gray scales of the printed image on the photosensitive medium (54) by creating a merged and integrated image on it. 22. The adapter (20) according to claim 21, wherein said time modulation means further comprises at least a third group of higher order bits of the electronic image signal, at least this third group and subsequent groups. An adapter that matches the exposure on the photosensitive media (54) to increase the number of gray scales. 23. An electronically produced image is provided on a photosensitive medium (5
4) The conventional photo printing machine (1
0) is a device for retrofitting a conventional photographic printing machine (10), which comprises an opening (68) in a negative holder (18) shaped to hold a photographic negative on which an image is recorded. A light beam that passes through is then generated, and this light beam is converted with this recorded image to create image-bearing light, which carries the first and second photographic prints, respectively, on the photosensitive medium (54). To expose the image on the photosensitive medium (54) through an optical device (26) having at least first and second removable and interchangeable lenses for varying magnification to expose size. Computer means (24) for processing and transmitting the electronic image signal in a working device; removable and replaceable in place of a photographic negative in a negative holder (18) of a conventional photographic printer (10). Insertion An adapter (20) for entering; and the computer means (2) secured within the adapter (20)
4) electrically connected to selectively transmit a light beam,
An apparatus including a spatial light modulator (60); which converts the above-mentioned image-bearing light to project the applied electronically-generated image as the image-bearing light. 24. The adapter (20) according to claim 23, wherein the first lens images a photographic print on the photosensitive medium (54) approximately the same size as the first size,
An adapter sized so that the second lens images photographic prints of a size approximately equal to the size of the second size on the photosensitive medium (54). 25. The adapter (20) according to claim 23, wherein the second lens is sized to image a photographic print on the photosensitive medium (54) approximately the same size as the first size. Adapter.