CRT method of and apparatus for illuminating photographic negatives to produce a hard copy

An apparatus for producing a positive photographic print from a photographic negative by exposing photographic image receiving media, the apparatus comprising:

• means for determining chromic and luminance characteristics of the photographic negative and for generating a signal representing the determined chromic and luminance characteristics of the photographic negative;
• means for determining required levels of chromic and luminance necessary for faithful reproduction of the positive photographic print based on the chromic and luminance characteristics of the photographic negative;
• cathode ray tube means comprised of a tri-colored cathode ray tube for exposing the photographic image receiving media to produce a positive photographic print, wherein the cathode ray tube comprises:
• an envelope;
• and
• a lens fused to the envelope in lieu of a face plate, the lens having an entrance pupil;
• and
• means for controlling the chromance and luminance of the cathode ray tube means so that chromance and luminance of the cathode ray tube means are substantially equal the required levels of chromance and luminance.

A method for producing a positive photographic print from a photographic negative by exposing photographic image receiving media, the method comprising:

• determining chromic and luminance characteristics of the photographic negative;
• determining required levels of chromance and luminance necessary for faithful production of a positive photographic print based on the determined chromance and luminance characteristics of the photographic negative by:
• determining chromic and luminance characteristics of a swatch of said photographic image receiving media having different shades of chromic intensity;
• generating a signal representing the chromic and luminance characteristics of the different shades of chromic intensity of the swatch;
• ascertaining standard levels of chromaluminance that produced the chromic and luminance characteristics of each shade of chromic intensity of the swatch;
• and
• comparing the standard levels of chromaluminance that produced the chromic and luminance characteristics of each shade of chromic intensity of the swatch with the chromic and luminance characteristics of the photographic negative to determine the required levels of chromance and luminance;
• and
• controlling the chromance and luminance of cathode ray tube so that the chromance and luminance of the cathode ray tube are substantially equal to the required levels of chromance and luminance so as to expose the photographic image receiving media to produce the positive photographic print.