INSTALLATION

The Starlite 55 Colorhead is designed to be used on any photographic enlarger, printer, duplicating camera, etc., and as such, there is no single procedure for the installation of the colorhead.

Mounting adapters for several popular enlargers are available from ZBE, Inc. These enlargers include:

Beseler 45XL

De Vere 504, 507

Omega D4, D5, D6, D5500

Contact ZBE, Incorporated, at the number and address shown on below, for information on these adapters.

MOUNTING THE STARLITE 55 COLORHEAD

When mounting the Starlite Colorhead on any machine (enlarger, printer, etc.) There are several considerations concerning physical placement and power consumption.

PLACEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Access

The Starlite 55 Colorhead should be installed so that the front door may be easily opened, and so nothing will hit or rub against the AC power cord, or keypad coiled cord, during normal operation.

Cooling

The Starlite 55 Colorhead has its own internal cooling fan for its lamps. The cooling system is designed for maximum efficiency, allowing one fan to cool the three lamps, with two light-tight vents on the exterior of the cabinet. The air intake vent is located on the front of the head, while the exhaust vent is located on the top of the head. Both of these vents should be completely free of obstructions when the head is in its operating position. The head should be mounted such that any flat surfaces are at least four inches (4") from these vents.

Orientation

The Starlite 55 Colorhead is designed to operate in any position, including upside-down. When the exhaust vent in the top of the head is pointing down (that is, the head mounted upside-down), it is a good idea to keep surfaces at least five to six inches from the vent.

POWER CONSIDERATIONS

The Starlite 55 uses three 360 w lamps for its light source (300 w lamps for 220 v heads). This means that the head will draw over 10 amps of current when the lamps are at full power. The power availability of the AC mains circuit into which the Starlite is connected should be able to comfortably handle this amount of power, without dropping in voltage. The minimum requirement for the electrical line is a 20-amp circuit.

The condition of the line voltage is also important. Although the Starlite has internal voltage stabilization for its lamps, voltage fluctuations on heavily-loaded lines may be too large or fast for the stabilizer to compensate. Power circuits with high-power machinery, particularly photo processors, should be avoided. A dedicated line is ideal for the Starlite and other sensitive darkroom equipment.

MOUNTING THE STARLITE ONTO OMEGA D5500 ENLARGER CHASSIS

Please note that you will need a special adapter for this.

The ZBE Starlite Colorhead mounts onto the Omega D5500 Enlarger chassis by means of the Omega D5 Adapter for the D5500. The Omega D5 Adapter is slightly modified for use with the ZBE Starlite Colorhead. This adapter’s installation onto the D5500 chassis is shown below:

1. Securing Adapter to D5500 and Initial Adjustment of Lifting Arms:

• Make sure that the adapter is fully seated upon the two mounting blocks and that it is level before tightening the four locking thumbscrews (Œ ).
• Once the adapter is mounted, check the fit of the levers around the Starlite Colorhead by placing the Starlite between the levers. If the spacing between the levers needs to be widened, use the two collar screws on the upper arms ( ) and the two set screws on the lower arms (Ž ) in order to facilitate moving the arms’ positions on the cross-bars. If possible, move only the arms on the right-hand side of the machine. Do not bend the arms!
• If you plan to use Omega’s D5-type negative carriers, place the optional choke plate ( ) from the kit over the image hole in the negative stage of the enlarger. This plate simply fits in position over the hole. (There are no screws holding it in place.)
• Attach the main lifting lever to the inside surface of the upper, left-hand lifting arm. Use the two screws and lock-washers provided with the main lifting lever for this. When installed, the main lever should be able to "catch" on the plastic block ( ), mounted to the left side of the D5 adapter, to keep the head in an "up" position for placing the negative carrier during normal use.

 

2. Starlite Preparation for Mounting and Final Adjustments:

• For use with any Omega enlarger, secure the Starlite Diffuser Choke Plate (Œ ) to the bottom of the colorhead using the four screws provided. The circular part of the choke plate should face downward.
• Once this is done, the Starlite is ready for final mounting onto the D5500 chassis. After positioning the Starlite between the lifting levers of the D5 adapter on the enlarger, use the four (2 per side) thumbscrews provided ( ) to secure the lifting arms to the metal plates on either side of the Starlite.
• Adjustments to the head’s position are done using the following screws:

 

THE STARLITE CONTROL SYSTEM

The Starlite is a computer-controlled photographic light source, with many features that will simplify day-to-day printing. It is a good idea to understand the nature of the control system to get the most from your new colorhead. This section offers a simple description of this system.

The colorhead controller allows the Starlite to be one of the most productive colorheads on the market, maintaining constant filtration and density, exposure times and counts, and compensation for different paper types, along with many other features. All this is controlled by an easy-to-learn keypad, which is fully backlit for use in the dark.

USING THE STARLITE COMPUTER SYSTEM

The keypad which controls the colorhead features a number of keys dedicated to operations frequently used in routing printing. These include keys for setting color filtration, print density and exposure time, and of course, starting exposures. This makes most operations with the colorhead a simple matter of a few keystrokes.

There are many more features built into the Starlite Colorhead. However, if each and every feature had a button of its own, the keyboard would become too large and complicated to use conveniently, especially in the dark. To make things easier, these features are accessed through a menu-driven software system.

Reading this section will help you become familiar to how the ZBE Starlite control system is operated.

GENERAL USAGE OF DEDICATED KEYS

The operation of the Starlite's keypad is simple. To change any value accessed by one of the dedicated keys ( , ,, , , , , etc.), simply press the appropriate key, enter the desired numeric value, then press .

For example, say you want to change the exposure time to 12.5 seconds:

1. First, press . A cursor will blink next to the time displayed on the keypad.
2. Type the number of seconds, then tenths of seconds. For 12.5 seconds, type , , . The decimal point always stays in one place.
   
3. When finished, press . The new value is now entered in the computer.

All number entry in the computer system is done in a similar manner. If a value has a decimal point in it, the decimal will be fixed at a given number of places for that particular value. Entering zeros will move the number to the desired position if no fractional value is needed.

If, during the entry of a number, you enter an incorrect value and want to change it, entering a few zeros will cause the number to blank back to zero, allowing a new entry.

STARLITE 55 KEYPAD

GENERAL USAGE OF MENUS

The menu system of the Starlite is organized into sections, called sub-menus. Each

sub-menu, accessed through the main menu, contains a group of items which are related to one-another. For instance, all of the functions needed to initially set up the Starlite Colorhead for daily operation are grouped in a sub-menu called "STARLITE CALIBRATION." This sub-menu appears as one of the items in the Starlite main menu.

Finding the item you want in the menu system is quite simple. The keys involved are listed below and the function of each is explained as it pertains to the menu system.

: Puts the user in the Starlite main menu, from which all other menus are accessed. When in a menu list, pressing this key will advance the current selection to the next item.}

: Select the previous item in the current menu list.

: Select the next item in the current menu list. This is the same as pressing the while in a menu.

- : All of the items in each menu are numbered. Pressing a number key will move the current selection to the item with that number. For experienced users, this is a faster way to get the desired item.

: Activates the menu item currently selected. If that item is a sub-menu (such as "STARLITE CALIBRATION"), that menu will now be displayed.

: Exits the menu system and returns to the main screen display.

The current selection is always displayed on the top line of the display, with a "->" prompt next to it. The next available selection is shown on the bottom line. In the text of this manual, the word "select" means to position the -> prompt next to a menu item. The words "go into" mean to access that indicated item by positioning the -> prompt next to it and then pressing .

Understanding the menu system in the Starlite will make using the machine easier and more productive. It is worth a minute to run through the menus and familiarize yourself with how they work and what they offer.

STARLITE 55 MENUS

STARLITE COLORHEAD FLOW OF FILTRATION OFFSETS

The Starlite Colorhead features several different types of filtration and density offsets to make operation easier. To fully gain the benefit of these offsets, it helps to know how each type affects that light output of the colorhead. Below is a chart depicting all of the different offsets and how they are added up to get from the filter pack numbers entered at the keypad to the actually light emitted from the head.

BASIC OPERATION

This section covers topics necessary for the basic operation of the Starlite 55 Colorhead. Such topics as focus lamp control and entering color filtration and density settings are covered here with a view towards the first-time user. In this section, we assume that the Starlite is already mechanically installed on the machine on which it is to be used.

TURNING THE POWER ON

The main power for the Starlite is controlled by a single switch, located on the right-hand side of the Starlite 55 Colorhead.

When power is turned on, the Starlite 55 will go through calibration procedure. During this procedure, which takes about ten seconds, the display on the keypad will show an opening message. This process assures that the Starlite will print the same day after day, lamp after lamp.

LAMP ON/OFF CONTROL

The Starlite lamp may be turned on or off using . When the lamp is turned on, the bulbs will light and the shutter will open. If the Starlite is in Filtered Light mode, the light output will change to the color settings specified in the upper left area of the keypad display. If the colorhead is in White Light mode, the output will change to a bright white light used for focusing or composing a print.

To toggle between Filtered Light mode (for printing) and White Light mode (for focusing), use . If this key is pressed while in Filtration mode, the White Light mode will be selected. At this time, the lamp will turn on, and the output will change to white light. The lamp will now stay on until or is pressed. If is pressed, the head will return to Filtration mode; the light output will return to the specified color, then the lamp will extinguish, the Starlite ready for printing. If is used, the lamp will simply turn off and the head will remain in White Light mode, with the upper left area of the keypad display reading "FILTERS OUT."

NOTE: In Filtered Light mode, there may be a delay between the time when is pressed and when the lamps actually go out. This is due to the Starlite making fine adjustments to the color output. This delay, which is usually a couple of seconds, is normal.

ENTERING A COLOR FILTRATION

To enter color filtration setting in the Starlite Colorhead, the following keys are used:

, , Press one of these color keys to get a prompt for the particular filtration value you wish to change. These keys can be used to jump between different color values when entering more than one.

- The number keys are used to type in a numeric value for the filtration.

After typing the new value for a color, either press this key to lock in the new setting.

Used to toggle the number being entered between a positive and negative value.

While entering a value, this key is used to make your entry an incremental change in the current value. Use this key to enter filtration changes rather than specific values.

Used to abort the entry of the value currently being entered. The old value will then be restored.

Example #1- To enter a Magenta value of 30cc:

1. Press . The cursor will appear at the current Magenta ("M:") value on the keypad screen.
2. Type , . The digits will appear as they are typed in.
3. Press . The Starlite lamp will now turn on while the new amount of magenta is locked in.

Example #2- To change the Magenta value by -7cc:

1. Press . The cursor will appear at the current Magenta value ("M:") on the keypad screen.
2. Press . The screen will show the word "INCREMENTAL" on the lower line.
3. Type in the amount of change you want. For this example, type
4. Press once to make this value negative ("-7").
5. Press . The value you entered will now be added to the current magenta value, and the lamps will turn on to lock in the new filtration

ENTERING DENSITY

The Starlite 55 Colorhead features neutral density control, which allows it to control the intensity of its light output internally, instead of having to adjust lens aperture. The Starlite's density value is printed out in the main display, below the color filtration.

The density value, like the color filtration values, is in standard color correction units (CC's), with 30 points = one f-stop. The entering of a density value is similar to color entry: press , type the numeric value, then press , and in the numeric pad may also be used to increase or decrease the density by one CC.

When the density value is entered, the colorhead's lamps will turn on, and the intensity of the output will be changed to new density. If the new density value is too bright or dim for the capability of the Starlite, the exposure time will be adjusted to compensate for the amount of light change not possible with light power alone.

KEYPAD BACKLIGHT CONTROL

The Starlite's keypad is fully backlit for use in the dark. However, during the handling of photographic paper and while printing, the light from the keypad may not be desired. To extinguish the keypad's lighting, just press . This will toggle the backlights off and on.

In addition to the on/off control, the intensity of the backlighting may be adjusted. A small knob is provided under the right end of the keypad unit for this purpose.

SAVING A JOB IN MEMORY

The Starlite has about 250 job memory channels that can be used to store specific print jobs. The information stored for each job is the following: D, C, M, and Y, exposure time, emulsion number, and f-stop. The f-stop is used only for the operator's reference and is not used by the computer in any calculations. To save a job press . You will be prompted for a job number; enter a five digit number of your choice. If that number is already in use you will be asked if you would like to over-write the old job information. Next you will be prompted for an f-stop value. The value you enter here will be displayed when that job is recalled.

While doing test prints, it is a good habit to save the job after each exposure to ensure that the latest data is always saved.

RECALLING A JOB FROM MEMORY

To recall or load a job that was previously saved press . You will be prompted to enter a job number. If the computer cannot find a job by the number entered, the display will show "DOESN'T EXIST, TRY AGAIN." When the job is recalled the light will turn on and the filtration will be put in, and the recalled f-stop is displayed for a few seconds. The display will then go back to the main screen and the light will turn off. The enlarger is now ready for printing.

MAKING A SIMPLE EXPOSURE

Making a test exposure with the Starlite is similar to other colorheads. The Starlite has the ability to remember print setups, so that once a test print is successful, it need not be done again. A procedure for making a test print is outlined here:

1. Load your negative in preparation for printing.
2. Turn the lamps on by pressing . The keypad display should read "FILTERS OUT" and the lamps will come on. (If not, press again.) Compose and focus the image as desired.
3. Enter the desired first-time print data for Cyan (usually zero), Magenta, Yellow, and Density. Entering filtration data while in White Light mode will cause the Starlite to revert back to Filtered Light output.
4. Enter the desired exposure time.
5. Just before making the actual print, save the setup under a job number in the Starlite's memory. This way the setup will be saved if the machine is used while this test print is in process (perhaps for another test exposure).
6. Place the paper in position and make the print by pressing . Before handling paper, you can press to extinguish the keypad lights.
   

This is one round of the test printing process. Several tests may be required to achieve a perfect print. Once the perfect print is made, this final setup should be saved so that it may be recalled from memory if reprints of the negative are required in the future.

SELECTING PREFERENCES

The Starlite Preferences menu lets you adjust and select many aspects of the colorhead's operation. The actual operation of this menu is different than that of the other menus in the system.

Each item in the Preferences menu, when selected will enable you to enter new data or change a setting right there in the menu list itself. Each item's current setting will appear to the right of its name in the menu list. As you scroll through the list using and , you can examine all the current settings just by reading them along the right-hand side of the keypad screen. To change an item, simply press , and a cursor will appear next to the setting. Generally, you can press or here to change the setting to any one of it's possible values, or, if that setting is a numeric value, type in the new value. Once the new setting is correct, press again. This will return you to the left side of the screen, and you will then be able to continue to scroll through the Preferences menu. This operation will continue until you press to get back to the main screen.

The items in the Preferences menu are listed as they appear on the keypad and described below. The settings shown are the factory defaults.

->1: SIZE TO DENSITY CORRECTION - ACTIVE

Starlite adjusts lamps automatically after sizing change. Available only with the Sentinel Enlarger.

->2: SHUTTER - ACTIVE

Disables or enables internal shutter. If using the Starlite on an enlarger, you should leave this setting on "ACTIVE". If the Starlite is to be used as the lightsource for a photo printer or on a similar machine that has it's own shutter, you can make the Shutter "INACTIVE".

->3: DENSITY SLOPE DIRECTION - POSITIVE

Sets whether an increase in the density value means more light ("POSITIVE") or less light ("NEGATIVE"). Most video analyzers use a positive density slope.

->4: TIME TO DENSITY CORRECTION - ACTIVE

Links the density value on the main screen readout to the exposure time. If this preference is "ACTIVE", whenever you change the exposure time in the main screen by pressing , the density value will change to reflect what density change will occur at the print, due to your time change. This effectively makes the Starlite main screen density value represent the print density rather than just the light density coming from the Starlite.

->5: MAXIMUM LAMPS POWER - 90 %

Sets maximum allowed lamp power. This figure can range from 60% to 99%. The higher the value, the more light you will be able to get from the Starlite. The lower the value, the longer you lamps will last. This setting only limits the maximum lamp power - it does not lock the lamp power to a specific setting.

->6: AUTO LAMP SHUTOFF - ACTIVE

If Active, lamps always switch off after 5 minutes of idle time. This setting is sometimes set to "INACTIVE" if the Starlite is used as a light source for a slide-duplicating machine or any application where the lightsource must remain on for long periods of time.

->7: DISPLAY MODE - CMY

Sets color display mode to CMY or RGB. This preference only affects the color names that are displayed. The actual operation of the Starlite remains the same.

->8: PROBING LIGHT - WHITE

Sets filtered or white light during probing. When the Density Probe is activated, the light that is used to read the current baseboard density can be set to "WHITE" for probing neutral density, or "FILTERED", for probing visual density. If using the Starlite in conjunction with a video analyzer, you will usually leave this setting at "WHITE."

->9: PROBE WITH AUTOCORRECTION - ACTIVE

Selects whether or not the light output of the Starlite will be adjusted by the computer when the Density Probe is activated. If this setting is "ACTIVE" when the D-Probe button is pressed, the Starlite will adjust it's light output so that the probe reads the proper amount of light at the baseboard for the current main-screen density value. If "INACTIVE", the D-Probe simply displays a probe density value, letting you adjust the baseboard light level (usually with the lens aperture) until the number reads the desired value. Refer to the section on the Density Probe for more information.

->10: LAMP POWER DISPLAY - INACTIVE

If this option is set to "ACTIVE", you will see a "PWR:" readout on the main screen whenever the Starlite's lamps are turned on. This readout replaces the print counter readout until the lamps are turned off. The power level, which can range between about "30%" and whatever value you have set for the maximum lamps power, is a good indicator of how much power you have left for density changes.

->11: FILT. DENSITY CORRECTION

This item allows you to turn on or off the filtration to density correction feature of the Starlite. This feature allows the user to assign percentage values to each of the three filtration colors (C, M, and Y). For each color, the assigned percentage of it's filtration value will be added to the density value in order to track density change due to filtration changes. This is used to make the Starlite work with visual density rather than neutral density. Some older video analyzers use visual density, but for most users, this preference should be made "INACTIVE"

->12: ROLL EASEL SETTINGS

Accesses the sub menus used for setting up the roll easel interface.