Digital BW, The Print

Hi Mark.  Here's my perspective on monitor luminance.

I use 90 cd/m2 regularly for white luminance, even on my LCD.  I
generally start with my normal viewing environment (where the picture
is hung) and work backwards.  Most display environments (homes,
offices, etc) are fairly dim, and 90 has always worked well for me.  

The next step backwards is the viewing light or booth, which I try to
keep at a fairly low level, so that it comes reasonably close to
approximating the final viewing environment.  Stepping backwards, that
translates into a lower monitor luminance.  They are all equal
partners in the chain.

If I were viewing my final prints in a very bright environment, or
under dedicated spotlights, then I would consider a higher white
luminance.  They are all parts of a "complete system".  But, I have
found that using high white luminance often translates to dark, muddy
prints, unless of course, you proof AND display them under bright
light conditions.  Usually, people who complain their prints are too
dark solve the problem quickly and easily by lowering their monitor
luminance (assuming they are printing with accurate custom profiles).

It makes no sense to me to look at a print in a very bright viewing
booth (except to get a look at details), then display the print in a
relatively dim environment.  The print will just end up looking dark &
muddy, with loss of shadow detail and separation.  

I advise people to use whatever works for their "system", but if they
are complaining about dark looking prints, try a lower luminance and
see if that works for them.  In my experience, more often than not, it
does.  

Regards, Lou





--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Mark Savoia
<mark@...> wrote:
>
> Just curious why you used that target, I have all my monitors set for  
> 120 cd/m.
> 
> Mark
> http://www.stillrivereditions.com
> 
> On Dec 4, 2008, at 8:31 AM, Stephen Kobrin wrote:
> 
> > While
> > the controls on my Dell 24" monitor would not allow me reduce the
> > brightness sufficiently to get to the target luminance of 90 cd/m(2),
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>