Computer Graphics with Photoshop - Best light of evaluating final inkjet print?

Author

Best light of evaluating final inkjet print?

John A. Stovall

2005-05-24, 7:18 pm

I've calibrated my monitor, got custom printer profiles, worked it up
in Photoshop and printed it. Now what kind of light should I be using
to evaluate it with? I've a couple of color management books which
suggest the Ottlite but other articles suggest Solux. What do you all
use for indoor print evaluations?

*********************************************************

"I have been a witness, and these pictures are
my testimony. The events I have recorded should
not be forgotten and must not be repeated."

-James Nachtwey-
http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

Joseph Chamberlain, DDS

2005-05-24, 7:18 pm

John:

Just Normlicht has some very nice color viewing boxes that would serve
really well for your purpose. The inner walls are made of non-reflective
materials and in neutral tones that don't interfere with color assessment
and the lights have spectral power distributions and correlated color
temperatures to match that of daylight. Aside from "daylight" lamps the
light boxes can be fitted with up to 4 other lights - total of 5
standardized light sources - for checking objects (in your case photos)
under lights with different characteristics to simulate the viewing
conditions of your audience.

The company makes outstanding products although they may be slightly on the
pricey side. Check it out at the following address:

www.just-normlicht.de

Just Normlicht is a German company but has an office in the US and its
products are sold by BH Photo in NY.

I hope the information is helpful.

Best regards,

--
Dr. Joseph Chamberlain, D.D.S.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 5/21/05 8:23 PM, in article liuv81lhivfcaqnqpn0p8orqgfuvpeh93j@4ax.com,
"John A. Stovall" <johnastovall@earthlink.net> wrote:

> I've calibrated my monitor, got custom printer profiles, worked it up
> in Photoshop and printed it. Now what kind of light should I be using
> to evaluate it with? I've a couple of color management books which
> suggest the Ottlite but other articles suggest Solux. What do you all
> use for indoor print evaluations?
>
>
> *********************************************************
>
> "I have been a witness, and these pictures are
> my testimony. The events I have recorded should
> not be forgotten and must not be repeated."
>
> -James Nachtwey-
> http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

Clyde

2005-05-24, 7:18 pm

John A. Stovall wrote:
> I've calibrated my monitor, got custom printer profiles, worked it up
> in Photoshop and printed it. Now what kind of light should I be using
> to evaluate it with? I've a couple of color management books which
> suggest the Ottlite but other articles suggest Solux. What do you all
> use for indoor print evaluations?
>
>
> *********************************************************
>
> "I have been a witness, and these pictures are
> my testimony. The events I have recorded should
> not be forgotten and must not be repeated."
>
> -James Nachtwey-
> http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

You should evaluate them in the same light they will be viewed in at
their final location. After all, that is the kind of light that they
will be seen in. Any other light won't get used.

Of course, a lot of times you won't know what kind of light they will be
viewed in. Then you have to see what they will look like in all kinds of
light.

When I test a paper in my R800 printer, I check it in incandescent,
daylight, and several kinds of florescent. Luckily, prints from the R800
don't change significantly in different light. Well, with my standard
Ilford paper anyway. That isn't completely true with some papers.

It seems strange to me to have a special viewing box and light to
evaluate a print, when the customer will never have that same situation.

Clyde

hoffmann@fho-emden.de

2005-05-26, 7:14 pm

John,

Solux spectra are smooth, Just Normlicht is spiky.
Strange enough, the metamerism is not extraordinarily
strong. If inkjet prints show metamerism and bronzing,
then this happens for both light sources.

It's really essential, that the Just Normlicht source can be
dimmed (2000 lux is much lighter than average viewing
conditions and can exaggerate unpleasant effects).

There are ordinary fluorescent tubes 5000K for room lighting
available. This helps to avoid differences between the room
light and the viewing booth.

More information is here:
http://www.fho-emden.de/~hoffmann/p...ght18092003.pdf

Best regards --Gernot Hoffmann

Clyde

2005-05-27, 4:15 am

Hecate

2005-05-27, 7:15 pm

On Sun, 22 May 2005 03:23:12 GMT, John A. Stovall
<johnastovall@earthlink.net> wrote:

>I've calibrated my monitor, got custom printer profiles, worked it up
>in Photoshop and printed it. Now what kind of light should I be using
>to evaluate it with? I've a couple of color management books which
>suggest the Ottlite but other articles suggest Solux. What do you all
>use for indoor print evaluations?
>
The room in which I use my computer and print out. It has a light
which is compatible using a GATF/RHEM light indicator. Then you can
check it where it's likely to be hung, but the light I mentioned gives
you the ideal situation. And my light, both from the socket and
through the window conforms. What you, really, really do not need to
do is buy some expensive light source which no-one else in the real
world ever uses/.

--

Hecate - The Real One
Hecate@newsguy.com
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...