A bit alarming and I’d like to share…that recently it feels like I’m having a bit of trouble in assessing various parameters (density, contrast, etc.) of test strips and wet prints.
Might this be age related? Or something else?
About two years ago, I installed a lighting track above my sink…allowing me to place two of my gallery spotlights (7 watt, 50ish watt equivalent, 3500K dimmable LED’s) in position and then aim them precisely to create even light over the holding tray - which I could further adjust, brightness-wise…to both match the needs dictated by the print(s) “endpoints” (my gallery, someone else’s gallery, art fair, etc.), as well as to account for dry down. A great system which worked well for awhile…until recently it seems.
Now, despite getting a given print right to where I think it needs to be, cognizant of the above mentioned variables…it seems like a crapshoot as to whether this print will actually hold to this - with the exposure and contrast values having wandered from my initial impressions. Very frustrating!
I do have a question about lighting. Previous to my having installed the above mentioned LED lighting system, I’d used a single incandescent bulb (40watt), set about thirty inches above the print holding tray. Should I go back to this? Is there something relating to the spectral output of an incandescent (or maybe halogen) bulb which might help me to get my wet print evaluating capabilities back into the right ballpark? Any other ideas? Thanks!
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