www.zbe.com www.zbe.com www.zbe.com www.zbe.com
USERS GROUP LOGIN
user:  
pass:

The best printer in the world by design.

The fastest LED printer in the world.

ZBE's versatile image submission software.

ZBE COLORPro

MANUAL CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

INSTALLATION & QUICKSTART

INSTALLING THE COLORPro

INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE

GETTING STARTED

SETTING THE COLORPRO CALIBRATION

LEARNING GRAY

MAKING A PRINT

ADVANCED OPERATIONS

USING STYLES

A FEW NOTES ABOUT STYLES

LEARNING STYLES

EDITING STYLES NUMERICALLY

USING FILM CHANNELS

EDITING FILM TYPES NUMERICALLY

EDITING THE COLORPRO MASTER BALANCE NUMERICALLY

KEYPAD DRAWING

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Congratulations on your purchase of the ZBE COLORPro Analyzer. The COLORPro will assist you in finding the starting color balance when printing new negatives.

 

The following pages explain how to get started with your COLORPro. After the short set-up procedure, COLORPro will immediately begin to speed up your printing.

 

We call COLORPro "revolutionary", but the real secret to the COLORPro is you. COLORPro is the first analyzer that allows you to analyze the picture the way you see it. Unlike conventional analyzers that look at the entire image, COLORPro sets the color balance for the important parts of the image. With you as its guide, COLORPro scans and analyzes the important subjects of the image (which you show it) and sets the color balance for those. You show it the way and COLORPro will do the rest.

 

Happy printing!

 

 

INSTALLATION & QUICKSTART

 

The steps that follow will guide you through the installation and set-up of your COLORPro.

 

INSTALLING THE COLORPro

If you have a Sentinel Enlarger, COLORPro plugs into the junction box at the back of the column. With the power off, plug the COLORPro into any of the three D-25 type connectors on the junction box. After plugging in the COLORPro, tighten the two screws on the connector so that that it won't unplug accidentally.

If you have a Starlite 55 Colorhead that is not on a Sentinel Enlarger, the COLORPro plugs into the connector on the left side of the Starlite 55. With the power off, plug the COLORPro in. After plugging in the COLORPro, tighten the two screws on the connector so that that it won't unplug accidentally.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your Starlite 55 or Sentinel Enlarger is equipped with a VC-Scan, the COLORPro will not function properly if both units are plugged in at the same time. It will be necessary to unplug the VC-Scan before using the COLORPro.

 

INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE

Included with your COLORPro is new software for the Starlite 55 Colorhead. You need to install this software in the Starlite 55 Colorhead whether it is on a Sentinel Enlarger or any other chassis. The software EPROM must be installed in the colorhead before the COLORPro will work.

The Starlite 55 Colorhead is controlled by the large computer circuit board mounted on the inside of the rear wall of the main enclosure. The EPROM is located on this board, behind the light mixing chamber.

 

  1. Disconnect the enlarger or Starlite 55 power from the wall socket.
  2. Open the front door on the Starlite 55 Colorhead. Remove the mixing box and the filter assembly.
  3. Locate the EPROM on the circuit board in the back of the colorhead (Drawing A). The EPROM is the one which has a paper label on it. It is also labeled "ROM B" on the circuit board. Remove the old EPROM (Drawings B and C). Note that your old EPROM may be installed in the location below the RAM chip in the slot labeled "ROM A." In either case, the new EPROM will go into the "ROM B" slot. The old "ROM A" should be left empty.
  4. Install the new EPROM into the socket above the RAM chip (Drawing D). This socket is labeled "ROM B" on the circuit board. Be certain to install the new EPROM with the notch facing to the left. The notch in the end of the EPROM chip should be on the same end as a similar notch in the socket. Inspect the EPROM after you have installed it to be sure that all of the pins inserted into the socket, and that none were bent under the chip (Drawing E). A flashlight may help here.
  5. Re-install the mixing box and lamps assembly. Close the front access door. Reconnect power. Switch on the Enlarger. The keypad display will tell you "NEW EPROM INSTALLED," press any key to clear this screen and continue normal operation. Verify the enlarger system is working properly.

 

 

If the system appears to work, except that the light output does not seem correct, it may be necessary to run the "AUTO CALIBRATE SENSOR" diagnostic in the Starlite 55 Diagnostics Menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GETTING STARTED

 

SETTING THE COLORPro CALIBRATION

 

The first step in setting up your COLORPro is to enter the hardware calibration settings. Each COLORPro unit has it’s own unique set of hardware calibration settings. These numbers are printed on the bottom of the COLORPro itself. Enter these settings as follows:

 

  1. Press .
  2. If you have a Sentinel Enlarger, press to select the Starlite 55 menu. If you have a Starlite 55 without a Sentinel Enlarger, proceed to the next step.
  3. Press , to get into the "STARLITE CALIBRATION" menu.

  4. Use , to scroll to item "12: EDIT COLORPRO CALIBRATION VALUES", press . The screen will look like this:

 

  1. Enter the values printed on the bottom of your COLORPro. Press to advance to the next entry. Press if you make a mistake, and start over.
  2. After entering the values, press to return to the main screen.

 

LEARNING GRAY

The final step in setting up your COLORPro is to teach it the Reference Gray Balance. The Reference Gray Balance is the color balance at which the set-up negative (the "Shirley") prints properly.

 

  1. Make a print with the setup negative. Print at 8x10, ten seconds. Adjust the color balance and density and reprint until the gray patch on the image is a perfect gray (70, 70, 70 on your densitometer).
  2. Once the perfect print is made, do not remove the setup negative or change the lens aperture while "teaching" the COLORPro Reference Gray.
  3. Press on the COLORPro. The Starlite 55 Colorhead will turn on.

The display screen will read:

 

 

  1. Press to enter COLORPro’s "learning" mode.
  2. Press to learn the Gray Reference. The Screen will now read:

 

 

NOTE: The word "MASTER" refers to the Reference Gray.

 

  1. Place the COLORPro on the base board, so that the reading spot is in the middle of the gray target.

 

 

  1. Press and hold . The keypad will begin beeping. Each beep means the COLORPro took one reading. When pressing be careful not to block the reading spot with either hand. After several beeps (5-10), release the button. The beeping will stop.
  2. Press . The display will return to the normal main screen.

 

You have just "taught" COLORPro how to make gray. The COLORPro setup is now complete and you are ready to print.

 

MAKING A PRINT

For your first print, select a fairly "normal" negative.

 

  1. Put the negative in your enlarger. Size, focus, and compose the image as desired.
  2. Press once to start the scan mode. The enlarger light will come on.
  3. The next step is to scan the image. Place the COLORPro on the image and press . The keypad will begin beeping. Smoothly scan the COLORPro over the image. Use a zig zag motion to cover the image as shown in the picture. Keep the button depressed (keypad beeping) as you scan. Scan the entire image in about ten seconds. Do not scan off the image. (See the Scanning Tips section). Release the button when you are finished.

 

 

  1. COLORPro has now seen the image and is ready to set the filtration and exposure time. Locate an area near the middle of the image, which is a highlight or bright area. (The exact color and density, or location, is not critical). Place the COLORPro reading spot on this area, press . Do not hold or move the COLORPro during this step. Be careful not to cover the reading spot. The Starlite 55 will now adjust the color balance for your print. Just stand back and watch. When the light goes out, you are ready to print.
  2. Put a sheet of paper in the easel and press .

 

 

ADVANCED OPERATIONS

 

USING STYLES

For the print you have just made you have analyzed (scanned) the entire image. You will obtain the best results with your COLORPro by "showing it" (scanning) the important parts of the image (the main subjects) and avoiding the less important areas of the picture; we call this using "STYLES". "STYLES" tell the COLORPro what kind of picture you are printing. Portraits are an example of a style. Let’s print a portrait:

 

  1. Select a portrait negative and put it in the enlarger and compose the print as desired. Press once to start scan mode. The Colorhead light will come on.
  2. Next select the style. Using the , on either side of the zero, scroll through the list of styles to one of the three different portrait "SKIN" styles: light, medium or dark.

 

 

  1. Next scan the image. This time, when you scan, show COLORPro only the face of your subject, avoid the hair and background. Also avoid dark sunglasses or heavily shadowed areas of skin.

 

 

  1. The last step is the same as the last print: COLORPro will set the filtration and exposure time. Locate an area near the middle of the image which is approximately a highlight or bright area. (The exact color and density, or location, is not critical). Place the COLORPro reading spot on this area, press . Do not hold or move the COLORPro during this step. Be careful not to cover the reading spot. The Starlite 55 will now adjust the color balance for your print. Just stand back and watch. When the light goes out, you are ready to print.
  2. Put a sheet of paper in the easel and press .

 

A Few Notes About Styles

A style can be "learned" by the COLORPro to print the way you like it. The portrait (skin) styles are preset at the factory but may not be exactly correct for your personal preference, processor, etc. You can fine tune the color balance of the portrait and then "teach" COLORPro the new balance. (See the section on "Learning Styles").

Only a few styles are factory preset when you first get your COLORPro. You can set up the additional styles for whatever you like. There are many uses beyond portraits. For example: you can set up a style to match a specific color in a corporate logo or product shot. Or, to correct an incorrect lighting situation.

Your technique in scanning is very important when using a style. Show COLORPro the part of the image that corresponds to the style you are using: if you select "PORTRAIT" then show COLORPro the sky in the picture, you will get skin colored sky!

You can select the style anytime before or after the scanning. You can scan the image first, then select the style. If you make a mistake in scanning, you can press on the keyboard and start over.

 

Learning Styles

Some "STYLES" are preset at the factory, others are blank. Either way, you can "teach" your COLORPro any of the styles. For example, you may find that your preference is for slightly different skin tones, and in this case you can change any of the skin styles. To "learn" a style:

 

  1. Make a print which contains the style you want to change. Adjust the color balance and make test prints until the print looks the way you want it to. When the print is perfect, do not remove the negative or change the lens aperture.
  2. Press on the COLORPro. The Colorhead lamps will turn on .
  3. Select the style using , (on either side of the key).

The display screen will read:

 

 

  1. Press to enter COLORPro’s learning mode.
  2. Press to select a "STYLE" for learning. The screen will show:

 

 

  1. Scan the image the way you would when printing. For example, if this is a skin tone style of a portrait, scan the face and avoid the hair or background.

 

 

  1. Press .

 

You have just "taught" COLORPro that particular style.

 

 

Editing Styles Numerically

As well as "learning" styles by showing them to the COLORPro, you can also edit the overall color balance of the style. When you edit the color balance of the style numerically, it has the same effect as "learning" that style. After editing, all prints made with that style will be effected. To edit the color balance of a style:

 

  1. Press .
  2. If you have a Sentinel Enlarger, press to select the Starlite 55 menu. If you have a Starlite 55 without a Sentinel Enlarger, proceed to the next step.
  3. Press , to select the "STARLITE CALIBRATION" menu.
  4. Use either set of , to scroll to item "10: EDIT COLORPro STYLES", press . The screen will look like this:

 

 

 

  1. Type the style number, then press . The color balance for the selected style will be displayed.
  2. Press to edit the color balances. Then press to advance from one color to the next. Press if you make a mistake.
  3. After editing the color balance, press to return to the main screen.

 

 

USING FILM CHANNELS

COLORPro is designed to work equally with all film types. However, due to the extreme differences in today’s wide variety of films, you may find that some film types print slightly differently than others. For those types you can "teach" COLORPro to print that film type differently, as needed. The film channels function similarly to the styles. To learn a particular film type:

 

  1. Make a print with the setup negative for that film type. Print at 8x10, ten seconds. Adjust the color balance and density and reprint until the gray patch on the image is a perfect gray (70, 70, 70 on your densitometer). When the print is perfect, do not remove the setup negative or change the lens aperture.
  2. Press on the COLORPro. The Colorhead lamps will turn on.
  3. Select the film type using the , on either side of the key.

The display screen will read:

 

 

  1. Since you are using a setup negative with a gray patch, use the , in the number pad to select the Reference Gray style.
  2. Press to enter COLORPro’s learning mode.
  3. Press to enter "FILM" Type.

The Screen will now read:

 


  1. Place the COLORPro on the base board, so that the reading spot is in the middle of the gray target .
  2. Press and hold . The keypad will begin beeping. When pressing , be careful not to block the reading spot with either hand. After several beeps (5-10), release the button. The beeping will stop.
  3. Press .

 

You have just "taught" COLORPro that particular film type.

 

When printing that particular film type, select the film type from the films menu by using the arrow keys (on either side of the key). You may select the film type before, during or after scanning. However, you must select the film type before you press

 

 

Editing Film Types Numerically

As well as "learning" a film type with the setup negative. you can also set or edit the overall color balance of the film type. When you edit the color balance of the film type numerically, it has the same effect as "learning" that film type from the setup negative. After editing, all prints made with that film type will be effected. To edit the color balance of a film type:

 

  1. Press .
  2. If you have a Sentinel Enlarger, press to select the Starlite 55 menu. If you have a Starlite 55 without a Sentinel Enlarger, proceed to the next step.
  3. Press , to select the "STARLITE CALIBRATION" menu.
  4. Use the , to scroll to item "11: EDIT COLORPro FILMS", press .

The screen will look like this:

 


  1. Type the film number, then press . The color balance for the selected film type will be displayed. Note: Editing film type 0 (zero), edits the COLORPro main color balance. This is the Reference Gray Balance which was "learned" in the Quickstart section of this manual. The COLORPro Reference Gray Balance effects all film type and styles including the Gray Reference! Be careful if you decide to edit this!
  1. Press to edit the color balances. Press to advance from one color to the next. Press if you make a mistake.
  2. After editing the color balance, press to return to the main screen.

 

 

EDITING THE COLORPRO MASTER BALANCE NUMERICALLY

After learning the Master Color Balance, you may find that your prints have a consistent color cast, or are too light or dark. It is often easier to adjust for this numerically, rather than repeating the learning process. To adjust the COLORPro’s Master Color Balance numerically:

 

  1. Press .
  2. If you have a Sentinel Enlarger, press to select the Starlite 55 menu. If you have a Starlite 55 without a Sentinel Enlarger, proceed to the next step.
  3. Press , to select the "CALIBRATION MENU".
  4. Use the , to scroll to item "11: EDIT COLORPro FILMS", press . The screen will look like this:

 

 

 

  1. The COLORPro’s Master Color Balance is stored in film type 0 (zero). Press and . The COLORPro’s Master Color Balance will be displayed.
  2. Press to edit the Master Color Balance. Press to advance from one color to the next. Press if you make a mistake.
  3. After editing the Master Color Balance, press to return to the main screen.

 

NOTE: That changes in paper emulsion and your process will also effect all styles and film types. We recommend that you make corrections for these changes using the process or emulsion offsets, not the COLORPro Gray Reference Balance.

 

 

KEYPAD DRAWING

© 2004 ZBE Inc. 805.576.1600 1035 Cindy Ln. Carpinteria, CA 93013 info@zbe.com