Thursday, March 10, 2005, 9:52:03 PM, pnstenquist wrote:
pcn> Just as a practical matter, I know I'm fairly good at
pcn> recognizing pure white as opposed to ivory or another shade that
pcn> comes close. However, I find it hard to distinguish between a
pcn> slightly bluish gray and a pure gray or a slightly warm gray and
pcn> a pure gray. White, on the other hand, I know. And a piece of
pcn> ordinary printing paper is pretty darn close to pure white.
Unfortunately not. At least in my experience, and also other more
studio shooters than me. Many ordinary papers are too pink. Also, they
contain optical brighteners, and may have metamerism, different colour
under different lighting (e.g. under fluorescent). It surprises me
that you, a studio shooter, have this good experience with ordinary
paper.
Outcome is if you want true neutral colour in the studio purchase a
true neutral gray card, for which the manufacturer or some independent
tester (even better!) published tests of metamerism and spectra under
different light.
Good light!
fra
