PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING EXPOSURE DETERMINING APPARATUS AND FILM TYPE DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER

Codes (the so-called DX codes) recorded on a plurality of films are read to classify the films into a plurality of film types. Light is measured with respect to images on the films to obtain image densities, and, on the basis of the resultant photometric values, the image densities are obtained and are then stored in correspondence with the film types. A reference value is calculated on the basis of the image density that corresponds to the film type to which one of the films to be subjected to printing belongs. A color region is specified on the basis of the calculated reference value, and, on the basis of photometric values that belong to the specified color region, image density values for the three primary colors are calculated. The exposure for use in the printing of the film to be subjected to printing is determined from a reference printing exposure condition already stored and the calculated image density values for the three primary colors. The stored image densities are compared to one another to determine whether they are identical or similar, and certain film types corresponding image densities which have been determined to be identical or similar are integrated as the same film type.