Digital BW, The Print

Hi

After more than 30 years of making custom prints for clients (home decoration, darkroom prints), and being quite new to pure digital B&W, I've found over the years that in the room where you print, it's better to evaluate the print in a 5000K full spectrum environment.

But when I have a print to make for someone, I go where the print will be hanged and tweak what I think would be the best under the new lighting condition. It's empirical but usually works very nicely; if you make a mistake, you can always re-print with corrections needed (hoping that it was not a 36x48"!). Mine are 11x14 and below.

I acquired a long time ago two Bretford 6000 for viewing slide and negatives. At the time, I ordered also four extra tubes just in case. Gladly now, I used these tubes in a std. fluorescent ceiling flat panel and this is now my evaluating light; very soft and very clean. Just watch the surroundings; a dark or very colored wall will mess up the readings.

Good luck.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Ernst Dinkla <e.dinkla@...> wrote:
...I have.read that full-spectrum 5000K is perceived as neutral by the human eye.
> > What are other people using, and where can you get these lights?
> >
> > Thanks.