[PRODIG] [OT] Achieving 'daylight' office lighting

[Andy Warwick]

This is kind of off-topic, but I figured that there would be a lot of knowledgeable people on this list that could possibly help.

As I mentioned in my introduction some weeks ago, I'm not actually a photographer, but am primarily a graphic/web designer who also does digital image retouching with skills acquired from 2.5 year stint in a digital photographers. What is important -- however -- is that when doing colour stuff I can get close to what is ultimately printed.

I work from home, and am in the process of moving my office from my small study to the main room downstairs, due to the need for extra space. I am quite prepared to gut the room concerned, and need to totally rethink the lighting and decor.

I don't do enough color-work to justify cast amounts of money on things like view booths, but I am keen to put lighting in that isn't just 'normal' home lighting. The room itself doesn't get a great deal of natural light, and the layout and hours I keep tend to demand artificial, controlled light to avoid reflections, etc. on monitors. I plan to paint the wall neutral grey, with light beech desks and floor.

Can anyone recommend a UK supplier of light fittings, lamps, etc that aren't expensive, but will create an environment for acceptable (rather than critical) color work.

Is it an achievable goal -- for general office lighting, suitable for 8-10 hour standard office days -- to be aiming for D50 or D65? Or would that be too dingy/bright to work in?

I don't expect to get full-compliance D50 or D65, just something close. Can anyone who's been here recommend where I should be looking and what I should be considering, rather than picking up a couple of light fittings from B&Q or Homebase and using standard office fluorescent tubes, which -- I guess -- would be a complete waste of time.

I guess I'm after an 'artificial daylight' environment, that means proofs from my ink-jet, and colours on screen aren't a million miles from what a 'repro' house would see in a view booth, but without going as far as a totally neutral decor, wearing a non-reflective smock and painting my face grey to avoid color contamination.

All advice, on or off-list, gratefully received.

TIA

--
Andy Warwick

Creed New Media Design, Nottingham, UK
[t] +44 (0)115 8476867
[w] <http://www.creed.co.uk/src/prodig/index.htm>

===============================================================
GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE