Early meters were introduced for carbon and platinotype prints which were developed rather than being 'printed-out'. In use the carbon print is exposed in a printing frame to daylight, at the same time a test print on printing-out paper (POP) is exposed in the print meter which is placed next to the carbon print. Two versions were popular. In the simplest a small piece of POP was exposed and matched against a painted tint. In more elaborate versions a series of small images or figures of different densities were printed. With the simple form the photographer had to judge the density of the negative and from experience how many tints were required (usually the meter was exposed so that it reached the tint and was then exposed again with a fresh piece of POP). With the second form the density of the negative is matched against the test images and the exposure is stopped when the appropriate image is visible.

With later bromide and other development papers the usual way of determining the exposure was to make a test strip by multi-exposure. This required no extra apparatus. Step wedges consisting of glass or celluloid sectioned into varying densities were produced, with these only one exposure need be made to produce a test strip. The difference between this type of meter and the earlier carbon meters is that the test strip is made first, prior to exposing the print. Densitometers where the density of the negative was read directly were used by dedicated amateurs but were the exception.

For daylight enlarging ordinary actinometers could be used to measure the strength of the light and after allowance for the degree of enlargement the exposure could be read on the meter. Watkins published details on using their meters for enlarging.

In the 1930s electric meters using the grease spot principle and other comparison types started to be produced. Later, meters using photo-electric cells, such as the Majus of the late 1930s, were introduced.

One of the most popular of the early meters. Experience was used to judge which figures should print for the density of the negative.