We developed a series of new conjugated cruciform fluorophores (XF) featuring imine groups. The condensation of an XF containing aldehyde functionalities and selected primary amines leads to several XF-imine derivatives. Upon addition of Cu(2+) or Zn(2+) ions to solutions of the imine XFs in different solvents, a red-shifted emission is detected, resulting in an altered emission color. The imine acts as a simple modular metallo-reactive fluorophore.