Importance

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Abstract

A photographic copier has an adjustable masking device for masking a master to be reproduced. To determine whether masking is required and, if so, the degree of masking, the density of the master is measured and is then forwarded to a logic circuit which can make the determination. In a first mode of operation, masked and unmasked images of the master are displayed side-by-side on a pair of monitors so that an operator can make adjustments to the mask calculated by the logic circuit. The operator here controls the copying cycle. In a second mode of operation, the copying cycle is automated and the logic circuit decides whether masking is required by calculating a degree of masking and comparing the degree of masking with a relatively low reference value set by the operator. The master is copied without a mask when the calculated degree of masking is less than the reference value. If a copy made by masking is unsatisfactory, the operator can adjust or deactivate the logic circuit and make a new copy. In a third mode of operation, the reference value set by the operator is high. When the calculated degree of masking exceeds the reference value, the logic circuit asks the operator to make a decision on masking. To this end, the logic circuit interrupts the automatic copying cycle and calculates a proposed mask which is then displayed for the operator.

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First Claim