Lighting in my computer workspace
Oct 27, 2015 16:48:18 #
Been reading about lighting in computer rooms and how important it is that it doesn't shine directly into the monitor etc. To illuminate my work-room, I set up a couple of unused soft boxes complete with daylight color temperature bulbs pointing towards the neutral white coloured ceiling to 'wash' light evenly around the room. Then turned the normal lights off.
It certainly upped the eyeball comfort level when I'm editing images at my computer, however I just wondered what you guys and girls think of this arrangement. The subject of lighting, monitor calibration etc has already been thrashed out, so I don't wish to go there.
Thanks,
Warren
It certainly upped the eyeball comfort level when I'm editing images at my computer, however I just wondered what you guys and girls think of this arrangement. The subject of lighting, monitor calibration etc has already been thrashed out, so I don't wish to go there.
Thanks,
Warren
Oct 27, 2015 17:11:03 #
zneb240 wrote:
Been reading about lighting in computer rooms and ... (show quote)
Warren, the lighting in my computer room is just bright enough to keep from bumping into things. I've a small desk lamp that is usually off, unless I need to do something other than computer work on my desk.
Most offices in which I've worked have way too much light and I find that quite annoying.
--Bob
Oct 27, 2015 17:29:09 #
I use a small adjustable arm 4 led desk lamp. It adjusts up and down as well as on the reflector axis. The lamp can be focused very precisely and does not interfere with viewing the monitor. Color temp is very natural. Don't know the brand, bought it at a lighting store.
Oct 27, 2015 19:23:38 #
zneb240 wrote:
Been reading about lighting in computer rooms and ... (show quote)
Whatever works for you is fine, but you should calibrate your monitor using the same light you use to edit.
Oct 28, 2015 07:40:38 #
zneb240 wrote:
To illuminate my work-room, I set up a couple of unused soft boxes complete with daylight color temperature bulbs pointing towards the neutral white coloured ceiling to 'wash' light evenly around the room.
Warren
Warren
Can you post pictures? I got one of these when Amazon was having a temporary sale. Very nice.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JQ1V78I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
Oct 28, 2015 07:57:16 #
brian43053
Loc: Buffalo, NY
jerryc41 wrote:
Can you post pictures? I got one of these when Amazon was having a temporary sale. Very nice.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JQ1V78I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JQ1V78I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
that looks pretty nice - think I may get one!
Oct 28, 2015 08:20:31 #
brian43053 wrote:
that looks pretty nice - think I may get one!
For me, it's perfect. It uses almost no electricity, it's brightness is adjustable, and it gives me just the right amount of light.
Oct 28, 2015 08:36:17 #
jerryc41 wrote:
For me, it's perfect. It uses almost no electricity, it's brightness is adjustable, and it gives me just the right amount of light.
No electricity? Candles? Seriously- whatever works
Oct 28, 2015 08:57:10 #
johnst1001a
Loc: West Chester, Ohio
I too had way too much light in the computer room. I have overhead florescent bulbs. This is fine for normal computer work, particularly when I have to get into the file cabinet or do a lot of text printing. I do have the screen brightness up pretty high. But when I do photo work, I have a desk lamp with a gooseneck stem and have it focused on the table top, away from the monitor. I use a 60w equivalent daylight LED bulb. I turn the monitor brightness down to the level where I had calibrated it at, and then go from there. Then there is the printer. I have an HP8700, which is fine with photo's but often the colors and brightness do not correspond with the monitor, usually darker and less colorful. So, I just ordered a colormunki photo to calibrate the monitor and printer together.
Interestingly, when I take my photos to Walgreens, the output is beautiful, just like the monitor, so I do that quite a bit, particurlarly for 8x10's and 11x14's.
Interestingly, when I take my photos to Walgreens, the output is beautiful, just like the monitor, so I do that quite a bit, particurlarly for 8x10's and 11x14's.
Oct 28, 2015 09:52:59 #
Mark7829
Loc: Calfornia
zneb240 wrote:
Been reading about lighting in computer rooms and ... (show quote)
Good calibration tools take into account the ambient light of the room. The room should not be too bright or too dark. I would have multiple sources for diffusion.
Oct 28, 2015 09:57:49 #
zneb240 wrote:
Been reading about lighting in computer rooms and ... (show quote)
Done all that and also installed black out curtains on all of the windows too!
Oct 28, 2015 10:48:00 #
zneb240 wrote:
Been reading about lighting in computer rooms and ... (show quote)
Sounds good to me. When adjusting images, I match my print illuminator box brightness to my monitor, but the light I use is about what you have there.
It's easiest to see accurate color if most everything in the area is neutral gray (Munsell N8 or similar). That includes your computer's operating system desktop. I set it to medium dark gray on both Macs and PCs. This helps your eyes to "rest" at a more neutral point. (Stare at a bright, saturated color for a minute and then look away, to see why this is necessary! Your eyes get biochemically fatigued from that, and will display a negative of the color you were staring at.)
Oct 28, 2015 11:47:18 #
burkphoto wrote:
It's easiest to see accurate color if most everything in the area is neutral gray (Munsell N8 or similar). That includes your computer's operating system desktop. I set it to medium dark gray on both Macs and PCs.
It's easiest to see accurate color if most everything in the area is neutral gray (Munsell N8 or similar). That includes your computer's operating system desktop. I set it to medium dark gray on both Macs and PCs.
I had a student working for me who insisted her bright, vivid desktop colors did not affect her judgement.
She did not last long.
Oct 28, 2015 13:34:19 #
In a college level photo imaging class I attended the instructor also warned about wearing bright colored clothing when processing photos at the computer as it can impact the way you see colors on the screen. Keep your shirts and tops muted, she said. Not sure how accurate this advice is but I gave away all my neon shirts.
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