One of the more recent BatPac™ upgrades is the addition of light metering to the BatPac™ display. This allows the direct reading of reflectances as file values. We’ve chosen to use the WB 10/0 Zone System scale for reporting densities. From this report one can easily infer the 0 to 100 ink density scale. Remember to flip the value because threshold zero in photography is black (no exposure) and threshold zero in ink densities is white (no ink). Zone V is 50% because it’s in the middle, Zone I is 90%, Zone II is 80%, Zone III is 70%, Zone IV is 60%, Zone VI is 40%, Zone VII is 30%, Zone VIII is 20%, and Zone IX is 10%. To find the ink equivalency of a Zone report, subtract the Zone value from 10 and add a one’s place. For example Zone III; 10-3=7 or 70%. One you get used to it you can very easily infer ink densities quickly.

Eventually we will report all three scales in similar fashion to our tethered metering. For now we’ve chosen the Zone System report because it’s the easiest to learn if you are a beginner. See the Digital Zone System for more information on our use of the 0-10 scale in our metering.

If your BatPac™ does not support light metering you can return it to the factory for upgrade. Call the factory to schedule the upgrade for the most time efficient turnaround. It usually takes less than one day for the upgrade so you’ll want to schedule to make sure you’re in and out as fast as possible.

If your BatPac™ allows metering, enable the Meter function by pressing the button after the BatPac™ is turned on. This will prompt the display of 6 different reports. The default status display will indicate *9.9* for all six metering reports. The metering reports 5 values at the left of the display and one, singular report off to the right of the display. Each of the 5 reports at the left are reporting an average of 1,000 x 1,000 pixel areas. There are 4 separate reports that divide the CCD into quadrants. There is also a central 1,000 x 1,000 area reported in the center of the chip, reported in the center of the 4 reports at the left of the BatPac™ display. Note that the meter display reports *’s at the front and rear of displayed values when at least 5% of the pixels in a reported area saturate (overexpose or “blow out”).

The singular report at the right of the BatPac™ display reports an 8 x 8 pixel area at the center of the chip, this is the “spot” metering area. It also reports blown out pixels with the appearance of the * * adjacent to the reported value.
In practical use, adjust the exposure for the highest important value and fill for the shadow. When you cannot fill, you’ll resort to remapping the shadow end of the curve after development of the file to TIFF.

To use the Metering, take a picture to display the reflectances you’re interested in reporting. You may find the spot area the most useful for evaluation of scene brightness range. Place the center of the groundglass on an important high value. Snap a picture. Read the value on the rightmost report. Adjust the shutter speed or aperture to get a value that you’re interested in placing. Snap a picture of each important reflectance in your scene, using the spot for accurate readings. Carefully evaluate low values for exposure. Fill as necessary to obtain optimum low value densities. When everything is wonderful, bracket your shot. If the shooting style does not allow bracketing time, make sure to avoid overexposure of important high values. Blown highs cannot be saved.

Be aware that different text files can be used for the developing of BatPac™ files. These text files constitute different developments. You can choose a softer or more contrasty rendering of the BatPac™ file. This flexibility recommends the saving of the MEGA file to an appropriate archive. If you don’t like the rendering of a particular text file, you can redevelop with a different text file, if you’ve saved the MEGA file.

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