Workstation / Lighting conditions

MV
Posted By
Monty_VanEmmerik
Jul 13, 2004
Views
199
Replies
3
Status
Closed
I’m trying to setup the ideal lighting conditions in our prepress/imaging department. Does anyone have documentation on this? In the past we’ve always kept it very dark, but now I’m hearing it could be causing eye strain. I’d like to know the ideal foot candles for Photoshop users.

Monty
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KU
ken_upham
Jul 13, 2004
I would suggest using electric light. Foot candles sound dangerous. Sorry, couldn’t resist.
T
textmonkey
Jul 13, 2004
See this page:http://www.optometrists.ab.ca/guide/vdt.htm

"Try to match the brightness of the surroundings to that of the screen. Overall room light should be about 20 to 70 foot candles, which is about half the level of normal office light."

Having worked in prepress environments with both average office light levels (balanced true white light) and dimmed, I would definitely vote for dimmed. Of course, don’t go so dark that your monitors are glaringly bright and provide good color-managed viewing stations for proofing/color correction.
AR
Andrew Rodney
Jul 13, 2004
Try and get a copy of *ISO 3664:2000 Viewing Conditions – Graphic Technology and Photography. There’s some info at <http://gtilite.com/why-gti.htm> and these guys also sell not only fine light boxes but a gray paint ideal for walls and areas around a work station.

How to Master Sharpening in Photoshop

Give your photos a professional finish with sharpening in Photoshop. Learn to enhance details, create contrast, and prepare your images for print, web, and social media.

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