Gary - just a quick question about the choice of lighting - are you using 4000K because you feel you can make a better overall judgement in this temperature, with your eyes adjusted of course? Or is it because you know the prints will be viewed in the same conditions?
Personally I'm printing for a portfolio, which I take to meetings held in all different locations, and the lighting is inevitably always different. So I try to look at my prints in various lighting and make an overall judgement this way.
As I mentioned before, regarding my screen, I'm aware the temperature and apparent darkness of my prints will change relative to my display, if the lighting conditions in the room change. This is something I'm perfectly comfortable with and not the same as my original "pink skin tones" issue, which is about relative colour!
Hi Clark,
All of this is a somewhat confusing scenario, in the sense that it seems there is no longer any standard colour temp for viewing/evaluating printed work. Since my background pointed me in the direction of 5000K for such viewing, I have always followed that path and it has served me well. That is, except for the irregularities that accompany fluorescent bulbs, such as spiking and lack of intensity over a period of time. Therefore, one has to be very careful to make sure such bulbs are replaced on a regular basis in order to maintain a "standard" light source. However, I shall not dwell on that subject any longer, for those who have heard it before, probably from reading my posts. When I moved my business to my home early this year I had to find a new standard light source for my print viewing/evaluating station. I posted the subject on this forum, which received a number of replies, none of which steered me toward any sort of standard lighting system. It seemed that almost every post offered a different solution, but when Wayne Fox chimed in with some interesting information I started some research. I soon discovered that the company he had been dealing with for his gallery lights is situated in Toronto, about an hour drive from my home. I started to communicate with them and eventually ordered two of their LED bulbs to test. I wanted to check the difference between the 3000K and 4000K bulbs and their effect on the prints. It took a very short time for me to decide on the 4000K, since they do not produce a 5000K. I then ordered the EasyLinx Modular LED Bars, two 6" and two 48", along with the dimmable power supply. I put them together and installed them on the 7' ceiling in my rec-room where I work. They are a very
clean light source, and the slightly warmer temperature suits what I feel is probably close to what most people would be using in their homes and work places. It's also close enough to 5000K that it covers a variety of lighting situations in my opinion. Concerning your portfolio prints and lighting. That's a battle you cannot possibly win, unless you settle for an evaluation light source with a colour temp that falls about half way between 3000 and 5000K, or carry your own lighting setup with you, which of course is a ridiculous concept.
I'm afraid my attempt to shed some "light" on this subject has fallen short, but I hope you might be able to take something away from my rambling. Perhaps a 4000K light source would suit your situation, as it has mine. If you wish to look into it in more depth, try this site -
http://lumicrest.com/. They're very knowledgeable people and can offer some good advice for your situation I believe. I don't know where you are located, but due to your spelling of a certain word I'm led to believe you might be stationed here in Cannuck Land.
Gary
