Lighting on the Fine Print

[brian steinberger]

I've heard before that ideal lighting for viewing prints is EV 7 on a gray card. I've tried this and it is now my standard for judging test strips and viewing finished prints. And while my prints glow wonderfully in this "EV 7" lighting they don't glow in lighting under EV 7, and sometimes seem too bright in brighter lighting. This may seem silly and obvious, BUT I get the Ansel Adams calendar year after and year and am always in amazement at how the images on this calendar glow, no matter what lighting is placed on it. And these aren't even fine prints.

It seems like it should be simpler to me. Bright highlights should be relevant to the white base of the paper. If not much light is shown on the print it will look as bright as the white of the paper base. Shadow detail will suffer obviously with poor lighting. Is it something with glossy FB paper? Does it need great lighting to sing?

Under what lighting are guys judging, printing, and viewing your prints? I'm kind of worried about folks viewing works at a show under perfect lighting, purchasing, then hanging the print at home in a place that may not have adequate lighting and not getting the same "wow" from the print.

 

[2F/2F]

I'm kind of worried about folks viewing works at a show under perfect lighting, purchasing, then hanging the print at home in a place that may not have adequate lighting and not getting the same "wow" from the print.

That's why you employ a "no returns or exchanges" policy!

 

[brian steinberger]

That's why you employ a "no returns or exchanges" policy!

Haha, or put on the back of the framing in small print about proper lighting display instructions.

But seriously, I would like my prints to sing in all lighting.

 

[CBG]

... I would like my prints to sing in all lighting.

Doesn't really work. I believe you have to choose what sort of lighting you want and print for that. I keep my display walls illuminated by lights on dimmers.