Kelvin Relevance in Fine Art?
Kelvin Relevance in Fine Art?
- Subject: Kelvin Relevance in Fine Art?
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2005 14:25:45 -0500
I apologize that this is not directly a ColorSync related topic but I hope the list will lend any expertise in this area as it does relate to the viewing environment and, in relation, relates to potential monitor calibration setting problems when printing fine art prints.
My inquiry is in relation to the relevance of Kelvin ratings in regard to fine art and gallery installations. I understand lighting fairly well but recently I am questioning exactly what roll standard Kelvin rated lighting (standard being 5000K-6500K) is in viewing art. I am in the process of upgrading/improving my studio in which I have many Halogen lights on loft-like beams and many pieces of art of all mediums. In the process of changing out the generic Halogen bulbs to the Solux 4700K bulbs I realized that this CANNOT be what is used in many fine art and modern art galleries around the world – the blue-shift was substantial and it took a Solux 3500K bulb to come close to what “seemed” neutral light. Also, the Kelvin rated bulbs made some art more flat…
I understand that using a 5000K booth for viewing is standard but isn’t this standard more realistic in office-type atmospheres where Fluorescent lighting is abundant? If one is printing a digital fine art print that is expected to be viewed in a gallery-like atmosphere, isn’t 5000K too high of a rating for viewing such work?
I have recently visited the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (amazing… no words to explain) I was very aware of the environment and did not feel the somewhat cold lighting of 5000K-6500K when viewing the pieces – if anything there was a slight warm ambiance. So, with anything other than corporate presswork why is this 5000K standard so specified and used by many people printing “fine-art” pieces on inkjet medium? In the corporate world one would expect to be in an atmosphere more or less equivalent to a 5000K booth, but with many digital artists printing for viewing in a fine art environment what should be the norm?
I understand that 5000K is basically “sun straight up” noon but that reference point, it seems to me, should not be relevant to fine art – whether that be painting, giclee, dye-sub, photography, etc. I recently read that the Van Gogh Gallery uses Solux Halogen MR-16 bulbs but I find it hard to believe that they would use a bulb rated at 4700K with its slight bias toward the blue spectrum (as far as I can see). I am not an expert but I would like anyone experienced with this topic to please respond.
Thank for the time,
Cody Thomas
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