Digital BW, The Print

The color rendering index (CRI) is important.  White leds and typical
fluorescents are very poor in that regard.  As has been discussed in the
past, one exception with excellent CRI is the Philips TL950 tube.

Best regards,
John Moody

-----Original Message-----
From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Robert Lee
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 11:56 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Light source for evaluating prints?

I found a moderately priced Tensor desk lamp at an art supply store
that uses a 15 watt "6400K full spectrum" helical flourescent bulb.
One reason I got it was that I simply could not judge colors or toned
prints with my tungsten lighting, or (ironically) the flourescent
replacements that are designed to give tungsten-like light.

I don't know how well balanced the bulb is--I find it a bit on the
cold side--but it's good enough: I find I can judge color fairly well
under the lamp plus the ambient tungsten. It does take a minute to get
to full brightness, but there is no flicker as far as I can tell. One
unexpected benefit: reading text is much easier. (Makes sense, I
guess--full spectrum should give max contrast for a wide range of
text/ground combinations.)

Potential issues: I haven't found a source for replacement bulbs, and
there may not be enough light to judge a very large print as a whole.
The only solution I've come up with so far for either issue is to buy
another lamp.

Bob L



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]