Lighting conditions for viewing prints

PG
Posted By
Peter Gaunt
Aug 29, 2003
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303
Replies
11
Status
Closed
The colour and density of prints produced by my Epson 950 closely match the monitor I have attached to my iBook when they are viewed in daylight through my window.

When viewed under ordinary light bulbs, normal domestic ones with filaments, the prints look a little warmer but are acceptible to me. I have most of my flat lit with low-energy fluorescent bulbs and when viewed under those about half my prints look a little too green to my eyes. This I understand and can live with.

The problem arises when I’m producing prints in other than daylight. The computer and monitor have to live in one of the rooms with the low-energy bulbs. This makes it difficult to judge them unless I wander off into the kitchen (where there’s a ‘daylight’ fluorescent tube) or the bathroom where there are filament bulbs.

I’ve been thinking of getting a lamp specifically for judging prints by. Are there any particular types of lamp and bulbs I should look at which don’t cost a fortune? I’m wondering if there are any available for this very purpose.

—
Pete
====
*** Email is pete -at- dawnsun -dot- net
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NS
Nancy S
Aug 30, 2003
Pete,

You might look into the "Ott" lights.
LK
Leen Koper
Aug 30, 2003
If your low energy bulbs are those PL type ones, you certainly will have problems judging your prints.
I remember from my latest visit to my pro lab they used TL tubes that were rather expensive, although I don’t remember the price/type.
So I suppose walking to the kitchen is the most cost effective way. Moreover, if you own a large house, it might be a nice work out. 😉

Like the worlds most famous soccerplayer used to say "Every advantage has a disadvantage".

Leen
PG
Peter Gaunt
Aug 31, 2003
In article , Nancy S
wrote:

Pete,

You might look into the "Ott" lights.

What? I mean what’s an ‘Ott’ light when it’s at home?
PG
Peter Gaunt
Aug 31, 2003
In article , Leen Koper
wrote:

If your low energy bulbs are those PL type ones, you certainly will have problems judging your prints.

Indeed. I don’t expect otherwise. Most fluorescent tubes, including those wrapped up inside low energy bulbs, emit a discontinuous spectrum (try shining one through a prism) which is why it’s very difficult to colour balance photos taken in their light.

I remember from my latest visit to my pro lab they used TL tubes that were rather expensive, although I don’t remember the price/type. So I suppose walking to the kitchen is the most cost effective way. Moreover, if you own a large house, it might be a nice work out. 😉

It would be but I own a small flat 🙁
P
Phosphor
Aug 31, 2003
An Ott light is a particular brand of daylight balanced incandescent (I think) light, much beloved by cross stitchers as it allows them to see the thread colour accurately. I’ve got an old anglepoise lamp which has a daylight balanced 60watt bulb in it (bought from a lighting supplier) which I bought for embroidery purposes and it makes quite a decent light for judging prints, although it probably isn’t quite even enough (too narrow a focus). I try to print in daylight if I can.
susan S.
NS
Nancy S
Aug 31, 2003
Pete,

These lights are for home use. One can buy a whole lamp assembly or merely purchase one of several bulb types for their own lamps. The spectrum is daylight, have a read at

<http://www.ott-lite.com/>

< http://www.ott-lite.com/secondary/secondary.asp?WhichPage=pr od&sub=PD&whichcategory=subcategory>
PG
Peter Gaunt
Aug 31, 2003
In article , Nancy S
wrote:

Pete,

These lights are for home use. One can buy a whole lamp assembly or merely purchase one of several bulb types for their own lamps. The spectrum is daylight, have a read at

<http://www.ott-lite.com/>

< http://www.ott-lite.com/secondary/secondary.asp?WhichPage=pr od&sub=PD&whichca tegory=subcategory>

Thanks Nancy. They look useful and reasonably priced in the USA though no doubt if they’re available in the UK they’ll just replace the dollars with pounds which’ll make them a bit pricey 🙁 There’s probably a similar product available here anyway now that I know what sort of thing I’m looking for.
NS
Nancy S
Aug 31, 2003
Peter,

Well, as you say, the important thing is your knowing there is appropriate lighting for sale so you can look around. Those Ott lights are good and for about $30 US for a bulb is not laughable, anyway. I have the room in which my computer resides lit with the off-shelf, grocery store GE "Reveal" bulbs. Seems to work for me, at about $3 for a pair.
PL
Paul L UK
Sep 1, 2003
Peter

As a stop-gap, try Focus (DIY) stores, or an artists shop for a ‘daylight bulb’.

A normal 60/100w bullb with a clear blue coating. Designed for artists to simulate normal daylight.

Worth a try for a couple of quid. 😉

Paul
LK
Leen Koper
Sep 1, 2003
Paul, I do have this bulb. Somehow it doesnot do the job. Save the quid for a rainy day.

Leen
NS
Nancy S
Sep 1, 2003
These GE "Reveal" bulbs (the manufacturers nomenclature) are advertised as pure, true light and they are definitely worth my money. Thank you Peter and Leen for putting in your 2 cents worth also.

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