Digital BW, The Print

I have recently moved to a new house and need supplemental lighting for my print-making room. My old room had abundant diffuse natural light. I was wondering what light is the best for the printmaking process. 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.

Paul

On 08/21/2013 08:08 AM, pglombick wrote:
> I have recently moved to a new house and need supplemental lighting for
> my print-making room. My old room had abundant diffuse natural light. I
> was wondering what light is the best for the printmaking process. 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.
>
> Paul

Full Spectrum is the finest condition for ambient light. The color 
temperature should be adapted to the light level though and that to what 
makes your room comfortable and does not interfere with your image 
editing on a display, Or interfere with the viewing light for print 
checking. Which can have a different color temperature than the ambient 
light has depending for which display condition you make the prints. 
Check the Kruithof curve information. 5000K is quite high if it is all 
for home conditions with little daylight getting in.

-- 
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst Dinkla

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2012: 500+ inkjet media paper white spectral plots.

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.

Hi Paul:

I really like the Solux MR-16 50 watt bulbs. They are best in track lighting, but you can purchase them and use them in various fixtures. I would avoid most bulbs that are named "full spectrum" since that doesn't tell you enough about them. I also prefer the Solux MR-16's to fluorescent.

You might find this article on the topic that I wrote a few years back helpful:
<http://photofocus.com/2010/05/08/monitor-to-print-matching-part-i-choosing-the-right-proofing-light/>

Solux also sells adaptor fixtures for about $80 that can be very useful:
<https://www.solux.net/cgi-bin/tlistore/adapter.html>

Avoid their PAR20 bulbs since none come close to 5000K.

They have good clamp-on fixtures:
<https://www.solux.net/cgi-bin/tlistore/clampon.html>

Another option is this fixture from Pegasus Lighting ($55 and free shipping):
<http://www.pegasuslighting.com/display-light-mr16-halogen-flexible-arm-pal305.html>

All the best,
Andrew

Andrew Darlow
Editor, The Imaging Buffet
http://www.imagingbuffet.com
Author, 301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques:
An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers - http://www.inkjettips.com
and
Pet Photography 101: 
Tips for Taking Better Photos of Your Dog or Cat - http://www.PhotoPetTips.com
http://facebook.com/andrewdarlow

On Aug 21, 2013, at 2:08 AM, "pglombick" <glombick@...> wrote:

> I have recently moved to a new house and need supplemental lighting for my print-making room. My old room had abundant diffuse natural light. I was wondering what light is the best for the printmaking process. 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.
> 
> Paul 
> 
>

Research "OTT" light. Ott Lite 13 | Daylight Bulbs | Ott Lite Light Bulbs | Ott Lite 13 Watt - OttLite.

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

On 21/08/2013 17:43, Andrew Darlow wrote:
> I really like the Solux MR-16 50 watt bulbs. They are best in track lighting, but you can purchase them and use them in various fixtures. I would avoid most bulbs that are named "full spectrum" since that doesn't tell you enough about them. I also prefer the Solux MR-16's to fluorescent.

My choice too. No fluorescent light comes close to the spectral 
continuity of the Solux.

Have you given any thought to what color the walls are painted, or your flooring and how that will influence the perceived color on prints or screen?

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "pglombick" <glombick@...> wrote:

>
> I have recently moved to a new house and need supplemental lighting for my print-making room. My old room had abundant diffuse natural light. I was wondering what light is the best for the printmaking process. 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.
> 
> Paul
>

Thanks for the info folks. The walls are a grey-blue, with a light natural bamboo flooring.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "richardeskin" <richard.eskin@...> wrote:

>
> Have you given any thought to what color the walls are painted, or your flooring and how that will influence the perceived color on prints or screen?
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "pglombick" <glombick@> wrote:
> >
> > I have recently moved to a new house and need supplemental lighting for my print-making room. My old room had abundant diffuse natural light. I was wondering what light is the best for the printmaking process. 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.
> > 
> > Paul
> >
>