Looking for desktop lamp fixture for viewing prints...

[Schrades]

I’m hoping someone can recommend an inexpensive desktop light and fixture for viewing prints.  I searched the Forum, but most posts are fairly old and many of the suggested items are no longer available.  I wanted to purchase the Grafilite 2, as recommended by Northlight images, but it seems to be out of stock everywhere I look, and it’s especially hard to get in the U.S.  I want something relatively small, easy to move, and under $100.  It’ll mostly be used when framing to check for dust, although I’d like it to be daylight balanced for semi-critical comparative print viewing.  Any suggestions and advice will be greatly appreciated!

[digitaldog]

All kinds of MR16 desk lamps.
Then find a Solux MR16 bulb (they are still around) and off you go.
See: https://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=141874.0

[Schrades]

Thanks Andrew for your info.  I found your link to the MR16 halogen bulbs.  However, finding a desk lamp that will accommodate them has so far yielded no results.  From my various Google searches, I've found that MR16 halogen bulbs are slowly being phased out in favor of the LED versions.  Also, it seems the halogen version has been mostly used for track and recessed lighting fixtures.  I think it may be possible to find a MR16 LED desk lamp and switch out the bulb for the halogen version.  I read a blog article stating that most of the newer MR16 LED bulbs have been retrofitted with the same halogen version connections.  If I do find an MR16 LED desk lamp that I like, I'll have to verify that the connections are compatible.  I'll keep searching.

David

[digitaldog]

Yes, such bulbs are being phased out but no LED can compare at this time.
See this thread while ignoring the nonsense from Frans:
https://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=141796.0
There are some LEDs recommended if you forgo Solux.

[jrsforums]

I’m hoping someone can recommend an inexpensive desktop light and fixture for viewing prints.  I searched the Forum, but most posts are fairly old and many of the suggested items are no longer available.  I wanted to purchase the Grafilite 2, as recommended by Northlight images, but it seems to be out of stock everywhere I look, and it’s especially hard to get in the U.S.  I want something relatively small, easy to move, and under $100.  It’ll mostly be used when framing to check for dust, although I’d like it to be daylight balanced for semi-critical comparative print viewing.  Any suggestions and advice will be greatly appreciated!

This article mentions that the GrafiLite is based on Ottlite technology https://www.francescogola.net/review/grafilite-2-print-assessment-lamp-review/

Earlier Ottlite’s were based on fluorescent tubes, which I don’t think could change intensities or color.  They have new products based on LED which may be the basis talked about. https://www.ottlite.com/ottlite-clear-sun-led

[digitaldog]

I have an Ottlite; nothing special.

[jrsforums]

I have an Ottlite; nothing special.

Fluorescent or LED?

[tastar]

How about

Full Spectrum Solutions

Tony

[digitaldog]

How about

Full Spectrum Solutions

Tony

Not seeing any spectral plots. So “full spectrum?”

[Rand47]

Yes, such bulbs are being phased out but no LED can compare at this time.
See this thread while ignoring the nonsense from Frans:
https://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=141796.0
There are some LEDs recommended if you forgo Solux.

With all the FUD in that thread, in digging through it all I never did see a recommended LED in MR 16 configuration, that could be simply swapped out in my track light fixtures when my stock of Solux bites the dust.   

Rand

[digitaldog]

With all the FUD in that thread, in digging through it all I never did see a recommended LED in MR 16 configuration, that could be simply swapped out in my track light fixtures when my stock of Solux bites the dust.   

There's a post of an MR 16 LED that wasn't recommended.

[Rand47]

There's a post of an MR 16 LED that wasn't recommended.

LOL

Rand

[PhilipCummins]

I want something relatively small, easy to move, and under $100.  It’ll mostly be used when framing to check for dust, although I’d like it to be daylight balanced for semi-critical comparative print viewing.  Any suggestions and advice will be greatly appreciated!

Ilford has been advertising their new Ilfolux Colour Viewing Lamp recently (see here) which is LED based but can do 3000K, 4000K, 5000K & 6500K and is dimmable, it should be out shortly but I expect it'll be around $100 USD. Works off a 5V, 2A USB power adaptor (not included) so you should easily be able to get a suitable wall power adaptor or battery to run it. Image Science seems impressed with it, see their thoughts about it here but really needs to be tested with a spectrophotometer to see how good (or bad) it is.

[MfAlab]

Ilford has been advertising their new Ilfolux Colour Viewing Lamp recently (see here) which is LED based but can do 3000K, 4000K, 5000K & 6500K and is dimmable, it should be out shortly but I expect it'll be around $100 USD. Works off a 5V, 2A USB power adaptor (not included) so you should easily be able to get a suitable wall power adaptor or battery to run it. Image Science seems impressed with it, see their thoughts about it here but really needs to be tested with a spectrophotometer to see how good (or bad) it is.

ILFOLUX is a good desktop lamp, not a standard viewing lamp. Check the R9 and R12 on their website. The prints may look good under it, but not accuracy. Especially vivid red and blue colors. Many Video LED lamps have better SPD, but you have to modify it to suit the viewing environment.

[PhilipCummins]

ILFOLUX is a good desktop lamp, not a standard viewing lamp. Check the R9 and R12 on their website. The prints may look good under it, but not accuracy. Especially vivid red and blue colors. Many Video LED lamps have better SPD, but you have to modify it to suit the viewing environment.

Yep mostly just trying to fit into that ~$100 USD budget target Schrades is after. It seems like the Ilfolux is "good enough" for most casual viewing without breaking budgets, you'd aim to use something else if your budget and criteria required it (ie like a proper dimmable lighting booth, but you'd be able to afford that if your work depended on it). I'd say it would compare reasonably well to the Grafilite 2 in that cost bracket. Looking at the costs for some of the video LED strip lighting (ie Waveform Absolute Series) it's about 3x the cost once you factor putting it together + getting a dimmer I expect. I wouldn't recommend investing Solux anymore (unless you had some already) given the bulbs are not being made anymore + convenient fixtures are difficult to get & they are not dimmable.

[Ernst Dinkla]

Yes, such bulbs are being phased out but no LED can compare at this time.
See this thread while ignoring the nonsense from Frans:
https://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=141796.0
There are some LEDs recommended if you forgo Solux.

So Solux are phased out, Elko only shows 3500K and 4100K halogens that are in my opinion not different from the Osram Decostar 51 Cool Blue halogens that I bought some years ago. Powered with 12volt the 4500K type delivers 4100 when the voltage drops to 11,5volt in use. If you want to have 5000K then driving them at 16-17Volt is an option, their lifetime not that bad either then. A lot of lumen though and hot. See the link to a good article. Probably Solux types 5000K types got a thinner resistance wire to burn 5000K at 12volt.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277326193_Qualimetric_Researches_of_Educational_Resources_Standardizing_of_Light_Conditions_in_the_Light_Booth

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm

[Czornyj]

So Solux are phased out, Elko only shows 3500K and 4100K halogens that are in my opinion not different from the Osram Decostar 51 Cool Blue halogens that I bought some years ago. Powered with 12volt the 4500K type delivers 4100 when the voltage drops to 11,5volt in use. If you want to have 5000K then driving them at 16-17Volt is an option, their lifetime not that bad either then. A lot of lumen though and hot. See the link to a good article. Probably Solux types 5000K types got a thinner resistance wire to burn 5000K at 12volt.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277326193_Qualimetric_Researches_of_Educational_Resources_Standardizing_of_Light_Conditions_in_the_Light_Booth

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm

Since I started to use violet LED with RGB phosphors I quit using Solux/Eiko and never looked back. They’re much less expensive and troublesome in the long run, easly avilable in EU and come in many forms (see link below). The only advantage of halogen I can imagine is presence of UV in their spectra (which I don’t care at all).

https://www.ledvance.com/consumer/human-centric-lighting

[Richard.Wills]

Marcin,

Any particular version you've tried? I'm likely to shift production to a windowless concrete sub basement later in the year, and would love to spec out a decent illuminant for the prep, printing and post production area.

[Czornyj]

Marcin,

Any particular version you've tried? I'm likely to shift production to a windowless concrete sub basement later in the year, and would love to spec out a decent illuminant for the prep, printing and post production area.

I'm using E27 bulbs, but all other Sun@Home products use the same SunLike (Toshiba TRI-R technology) Vrgb LED emitters, with wi-fi control of dimming and CCT 2200-5000K
http://www.seoulsemicon.com/en/technology/sunlike/casestudy/

[Doug Gray]

I would like to see viewing station illuminants evaluated with CYMK inks, not some set of pigments that, while they may be more representative of real world object colors, do not reflect the metameric error introduced by CYMK inks.

The way to do this is by creating ICC profiles using illuminant spectra as well as the D50 ICC standard. Then analyzing a range of colors against the two profiles.

This is better because metameric error from prints is limited to CYMK response, not various objects with spectra quite different that may, or may not, be much better or worse.

In the past I've measured spectra at a location a print will be placed and created a profile for that location. Works especially well in industrial settings with spikey fluorescent lighting. Really improves the color quality of a print.

Anyone doing stuff like this?