Metamerism & Client Expectations
Metamerism & Client Expectations
- Subject: Metamerism & Client Expectations
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 17:35:46 EST
In a message dated 11/22/01 4:00:28 PM Pacific Standard Time, Doug Brightwell
(email@hidden) had asked:
"Does anyone have any recommendations, or can anyone point me to a concise
web source, for guidance on how photographers deal with 2000p "metamerism"
or "color inconsistency" in terms of setting client expectations?"
I had responded offlist to Doug. But since others have followed along with a
similar problem, I thought I'd better throw my two cents worth in.
I can tell you that I've been producing portraits and C&R work on it for over
a year now and I've had issues and found solutions - sort of.
I first ask the clients where they are planning on displaying the portraits,
etc. If it is in their home or office, I ask them about the lighting. Then I
inform them that the product we are using is very archival (benefit first)
but that it is extremely sensitive to the lighting under which it is
displayed (caution). Then we follow up with the solution that the prints will
be made for displaying under that light source. If they have problems, let us
know.
Now, how do I view the prints? One, we have a light on our artwork table that
has a tungsten and a fluorescent bulb. I'll use one of those if it is going
to be under tungsten (2800) or fluorescent (who knows precisely, but green).
I also have an Ott light which can be purchased at an office supply store
which puts out a light not far off from the 5K reccomendation for viewing. It
does seem that if it looks good under that, it looks beatiful under tungsten
and ok under fluorescent. Now, view it by window light and see what you get.
I still haven't come up with a solution if the client is going to view it
under window and tungsten.
Hope this helps. Let me know.
Oh, one other factor that I find important: lacquer the prints. This
eliminates the layered look of the inks. Besides, it protects the print that
much more.
Joe Butts
<A HREF="
http://www.joebutts.com/";>Joe Butts Photography</A>