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Large Format Digital
Scanning Camera System
User’s Manual
featuring…
Digital Scanning Camera Software
Revision D
March 2007
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Acknowledgements Better Light acknowledges and is grateful for the hard work and dedication of its employees. Additionally, Better Light acknowledges the contributions of its Beta testers and industry colleagues. This manual may not, in whole or part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or con- verted to any electronic form without written consent of Better Light. All product names and trademarks are the property of their registered owners. 1200 Industrial Road, #17, San Carlos, Cal
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CAUTION! PINCH HAZARD: DO NOT OPERATE INSERT OUTSIDE CAMERA. ATTENTION! DANGER DE PINCEMENT: NE PAS EMPLOYER AVEC L’INSERTION A L’EXTERIEUR DE LA CAMERA. ACHTUNG! ZWICKGEFAHR: NICHT AUSSERHALB DER KAMERA BETREIBEN VERLETZUNGSGEFAHR. Warning: This is a class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference in which case the user may be required to take ade- quate measures. NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a C
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Contents Parts List .......................................................................................................................................10 Connector Identification ...............................................................................................................11 Getting Started ..............................................................................................................................12 Installing and Configuring the ViewFinder™ Software ........
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Automatically Naming Images ...................................................................................................31 Adding Notes to Your Picture ....................................................................................................32 Exposure Evaluation ......................................................................................................................33 Digital Spot Metering ...........................................................................
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Changing Existing Color Balances ......................................................................................52 Deleting Color Balances ......................................................................................................52 Altering Color Balance for Mood or Effect ..........................................................................52 Reverting to a Previous Color Balance .................................................................................53 Tagging I
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Adding Notes to Your Pictures ............................................................................................68 Exporting Notes ..................................................................................................................68 Automatically Saving Files to a Folder .................................................................................69 Automatically Opening the Image .......................................................................................
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Appendices ....................................................................................................................................84 Appendix A - Cleaning the CCD Cover Glass ...........................................................................84 Appendix B - Manipulating Exposure ........................................................................................85 Exposure Adjustments .......................................................................................
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Parts List 1. Control Unit (1) 2. Insert (1) 3. Double shielded cable (1) 4. USB cable (1) 5. Power supply(1) 6. Power cord(1) [not shown] 7. Filters (1 daylight, 1 tungsten) 8. Focus card (2) 9. Viewing overlay (3) 10. Holster (1) 10
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Connector Identification 11
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Getting Started ™ Installing and Configuring the ViewFinder Software Insert the CD containing the ViewFinder™ camera control software and copy the entire camera software folder and its contents to the Applications folder on your computer’s hard disk. You may also wish to copy the additional items on the CD to your computer’s hard disk for future examination. Remove the CD and keep it in a safe place. Windows users should consult the “Release Notes” or any “ReadMe” files accompanying the View
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Memory Requirements The ViewFinder™ software requires about 20,000K bytes (about 20 MB) of memory to operate, as shown in its Get Info window. System Requirements Macintosh G3 processor or better Mac OS 10.4.0 or later PC (PC version of the software is required) Pentium III Processor or better Windows XP or later Common requirements: 24-bit color graphics display and video card with 800 x 600 minimum resolution USB-2 Interface, built-in or plug-in card 64 MB available RAM 13
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Quick Start Guide 1. Connect the camera insert to the control unit Plug the male end of the insert connector into the DB-25 socket on the camera control unit into the (marked as “DB-25 Insert Connector” in the connector identification image on page 8). Make sure the plug is firmly seated in the socket before securing it to the connector with the two connector screws. Connect or disconnect this cable ONLY when the camera power is turned OFF. Mate the female end of the cable with the DB-
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3. Connect the AC power to the control unit Use only an approved power cord with a plug appropriate for the power receptacles of the region. The camera has an external universal power adapter, able to operate from any AC voltage between 100 and 240 volts nominal, 47 to 63 Hz single phase, without changing switches or jumpers. The camera consumes a maximum of about 60 watts of power, and should be operated from the same circuit sup- plying power to the computer connected to the camera.
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of the ground glass to position the viewing area correctly. The outside of the mask can be trimmed with a pair of sharp scissors for a better fit in certain view cameras. 7. Install the infrared blocking filter For normal color imaging, one of the infrared blocking filters supplied with the system must be installed on either side of the lens to block unwanted infrared light (wavelengths from 700 to 1000 nm., just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum). The filters are each 3 inches (76 m
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a lens shade is recom- mended to reduce possible filter flare. The infrared filter can be fitted to most smaller 4x5 lenses by means of a clip-on filter holder (not supplied), usually sold for use with 35 mm cameras. An easily available alterna- tive is to use photographer’s Mounting the filter with a rubber band on the inside of the lens, top and side views. black tape or a large rubber band (using crossed loops to secure alternate corners of the filter) to affix the filter to the inside of al
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12. Prescan Click the button to take a quick scan of the image. Check the prescan image to make certain that the intended image is displayed in the preview. Adjust the camera and software settings and make additional prescans until the intended image is achieved. 13. Take the picture When satisfied, click the button to take the final image. The camera insert will begin the scan as indicated by the scan progress bar traversing the prescan image and the time value above the Scan button will be
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Prescanning The usual method of operating the Better Light camera centers around the tasks of prescanning the scene, adjusting parameters to achieve the intended image, then scanning the final image. This method Prescan and Scan controls. allows for iteratively adjusting the composition, lighting and exposure to give the photographer confidence that the image on screen will be the same one captured in the final scan. Making a Prescan The digital camera has a significant advantage over film in t
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Fast Prescans The Fast Prescan checkbox in the main control area selects between normal prescans (unchecked), per- formed at exactly the line time and color balance (sen- sitivity) selected, and Fast Prescans (checked), which are Fast Prescan option. performed at the highest sensitivity and shortest line time that will still yield the same color balance and effective exposure. Fast prescans may exhibit more noise than normal prescans, but this is often an acceptable trade-off for potentially f
