Densitometer

A densitometer is a device that measures the degree of darkness

(the optical density) of a photographic or semitransparent material
or of a reflecting surface.[1] The densitometer is basically a light
source aimed at a photoelectric cell.[2] It determines the density of a
sample placed between the light source and the photoelectric cell
from differences in the readings.[3] Modern densitometers have the
same components, but also have electronic integrated circuitry for
better reading.[4]

Contents
Heiland Densitometer TRDZ 1
Types
Photography applications
Uses
See also
References
External links

Types
Transmission densitometers that measure transparent materials
A transmission densitometer used to measure transparent surfaces measure color
transparencies. Film & transparent substrates are some examples of common transparent
surface measures.
Reflection densitometers that measure light reflected from a surface.

Photography applications
Some are capable of both types of measurements selectable by a switch. They are used in film photography
to measure densities of negatives with the switch in the "T" (Transmission) position and the saturation of a
resulting print in the "R" position. Such measurements enable the photographer to choose the right photo
paper and the correct exposure, obviating experiments with test strips. Once the papers and darkroom have
been calibrated, the first print from a previously measured negative is a success at once.

Uses
Densitometers are used for measuring color saturation by print professionals
Calibration of printing equipment
It serves as one of the Molecular tools for gene study, to quantify the radioactivity of a
compound such as radiolabeled DNA.
 They are also used for making adjustments so that outputs are consistent with the colors
desired in the finished products.
They are used in industrial radiography to ensure x-ray films are within code-required
density ranges. They are also used to compare relative material thicknesses.
Densitometers are used for process control of density dot gain, dot area & ink trapping.
Densitometer readings will be different for different types of printing process & substrates.

See also
Density Meter
Densitometry
Microdensitometer
Spectrophotometer
Molecular tools for gene study

References
1. "301 Medical Densitometer - Black & White Film Measuring" (http://www.xrite.com/301-medi
cal-densitometer). X-Rite. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
2. "Unbound MEDLINE : An evaluation of a rotating drum densitometer and its application to
precession photographs of protein crystal" (http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citati
on/5483869/An_evaluation_of_a_rotating_drum_densitometer_and_its_application_to_prec
ession_photographs_of_protein_crystals_). Unboundmedicine.com. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
3. Health Physics Division annual progress report (https://books.google.com/books?id=tLs9V0
b8fe0C&pg=PA101). Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Health Physics Division, Union
Carbide Corporation, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, United States. Energy Research
and Development Administration, United States. National Bureau of Standards. Fracture
and Deformation Division, United States. Dept. of Energy. Office of Fusion Energy, United
States. National Bureau of Standards. p. 101. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
4. Singh, S. K. (2003). Industrial Instrumentation & Control (https://books.google.com/books?id
=50mqORNmBJgC&pg=PA451) (2nd ed.). Tata McGraw-Hill Education. p. 451. Retrieved
2014-08-23.

External links
In depth article explaining densitometers (http://www.printernational.org/densitometer.php)

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