Re: Lighting for print viewing, revisited

["B.G." <smthopr@loop.com>]

> Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 09:43:24 +0000
> From: Andy Darlow <andy@andydarlow.com>
> Subject: Re: Lighting for print viewing, revisited
> 
> Hi Mitch:
> 
> Two inexpensive ways to get as close to 5000K as is necessary(in my
> opinion) on a budget are to use 2 home depot under counter lamps, each of
> which take one F15T8 5000K flourescent bulb.  I like the Phillips
> F15/T8/C50 15 Watt bulbs.  They run about $6 for a total cost of about $45
> for everything.  Since you like the clip-on lights, just find one which
> will accept a circular flourescent and use the D50 circulars.
> 
> My experience with the 5000K flourescents with the screw in fixture has not
> been good. Usually they are too purple or some other shade of color.  They
> also run about $20 each.
> 
> Hope this was helpful.
> 
> - -Andy Darlow
> 

My 2 cents:

If I were looking for an inexpensive daylight
source for viewing inkjet prints, I'd stay away
from flourescent bulbs unless they were specially
manufactured for viewing color critical work or
photographic lighting.  There are color "spikes"
in flourescents that might effect your evaluation
of the print.

That said, try this:  get a desk lamp with a
halogen bulb and buy a sheet of daylight
correction blue gel made for motion picture and
photographic lighting conversion.  It's probably
about $10/sheet.  It may be available at a well
stocked photo store used by pros.  Rosco is one
manufacturer and another is Gamcolor (213)
461-0200 in Hollywood.  The Gam color filter you
would want is #1523 Full CTB.(stands for color
temperature blue, I think).  It converts from
3200k to 5500k.  If the Halogen desk lamp is less
than 3200, which it probably is, you can also get
a sheet of #1535, 1/8 CTB, which corrects from
3200k to 3400k and use that as well.

These filters tend to fade, especially when
exposed to light and heat.  Just keep the lamp off
till you need to use it and you should be fine.
-bruce
-
Please turn off HTML mail features. Keep quoted material short. Use
accurate subject lines. http://www.leben.com/lists for instructions.