Poll: Work Lighting

[pspdfppdfxhd]

All this trouble then the client looks at the proof under totally different lighting and its approved under those circumstances.

When the color expert came in here he showed me a gray balanced proof under about 5 different lighting scenarios and they all looked different.

[StudioMonkey]

I voted Daylight as my preferred option because that gives the best colour balance.  Where I used to work we had those fancy daylight bulbs but they are expensive and the secretary thought they would be like a tanning bed (she used to use them in her office).

Having said all that, most places I have worked just have regular overhead fluorescents.

[david]

All this trouble then the client looks at the proof under totally different lighting and its approved under those circumstances.

When the color expert came in here he showed me a gray balanced proof under about 5 different lighting scenarios and they all looked different.

Metamerism at it's finest.
It's all about the light.

[born2print]

We used to have a client, manufactured "stone" facade
In spite of knowing better, and being coached, etc...
they INSISTED they had to compare color vs. product outside in daylight.

me: did they like the color?
CSR: No, they need to come back tomorrow, too cloudy today

[Kermy812]

We use all overhead 500k bulbs..

[motormount]

Typical fluorescent mixed with daylight.

A LOT OF DAYLIGHT.

The longest side of the room has huge windows looking north - north west.

In the afternoon we draw the ''curtains'' down  - not sure how they call those rolls in English -

The lights are warm, but because of the daylight they seem less warm than usual.

Colleagues work on imacs, and i on a hacintosh with a 27inch ultra sharp, factory calibrated...

Funny thing is the majority of jobs are processed very carefully, we keep printed records for reprints etc.

Funnier is that when we have a problem or a doubt we go all over the place to find the right spot to estimate the color look...

Even funnier the thing works, so why argue?

[Tracy]

I think they're called shades over here in san diego

[Farabomb]

Light? When I was in prepress we were treated like mushrooms. Kept in the dark and fed shit.

[DigiCorn]

In the afternoon we draw the ''curtains'' down  - not sure how they call those rolls in English -

Depends on the style. Curtains are usually the hanging heavy fabric. Shades are the rolls that have the self-curling spring inside. Blinds are the slats that open and close with a rod.

A LOT OF DAYLIGHT.
[redacted]
Funnier is that when we have a problem or a doubt we go all over the place to find the right spot to estimate the color look...

When I want dead on balls accurate color, I check outside in the sunlight.

[scottrsimons]

When I want dead on balls accurate color, I check outside in the sunlight.

I'm in Michigan. We have to depend on the artificial light, as you never know when you're gonna see the sun. Especially this time of year. I'm so not used to it, I stay away from the windows...during the day time hours.   

[motormount]

When I want dead on balls accurate color, I check outside in the sunlight.

ok, that's why 5500k lamps are called daylight, but even if you are not working in Michigan you might need dead on balls accuracy late in the afternoon, so you'd better have proper office lighting than waiting for the sun to move straight up over your head!

ps Thanks for the shades - Tracy too - 

[ninjaPB_43]

ok, that's why 5500k lamps are called daylight, but even if you are not working in Michigan you might need dead on balls accuracy late in the afternoon, so you'd better have proper office lighting than waiting for the sun to move straight up over your head!

Exactly. Also, many times press checks come at night. I'm pretty sure no one, client or printer, want to say - y'know what? Put that press on idle until the sun comes out - I gotta look at this thing outside. 

[ninjaPB_43]

I appreciate everyone's feedback - it's about what I expected (mix of overhead and none other than cpu), but good to have actual (albeit small) sampling of real world examples. So, thanks! and Cheers. 

[born2print]