From: wlrc@uhura.neoucom.edu (William R. Cruce)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Lighting a video room?
Date: 22 Aug 92 22:28:18 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine

In article <1992Aug21.125307.16736@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> robe@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (robert.g.egan) writes:
 
>Jim Millick suggested a 10 to 20 W fluorescent bulb of the daylight,
>6500 degrees K variety. You would have to get it at lighting specialty
>stores, you can't readily pick this up at the local hardware store. I have
>mine mounted on the rear of the TV stand reflecting off the wall. My wife
>thought it was silly to put a light behind the TV. Now she has to have that 
>light on before she watches any TV. Visitors have also commented on how much 
>more pleasant it is to watch tv this way. 

I recommend a commonly available "Daylight" bulb such as the Sylvania
"F40D" where the "D" stands for "daylight."  It is readily available in
a variety of lengths, shapes, and wattages.  The F40D is the standard
4 foot, 40 watt, straight tube.  Cost about $4.  I use a pair of these
mounted in a cheap utility holder on the floor behind my projection
monitor.  They point upward at an angle towards the wall.  I also
have a couple of other daylight bulbs in smaller wattage in lamps
near the seating area.  Sometimes I bounce one of these off the
rear wall for low level lighting.  Not recommended procedure, but use-
ful for seeing the push buttons on my remote or reading the chapter
listing on a laser disc envelope :-).

For completeness, you should be aware that the type of bulb recommended
above is "only" 6300K color temperature.  It also doesn't have a very
high color rendering index, CRI = 76.  The ideal bulb, the one recommended
by Joe Kane, is a DUROTEST "Daylight 65" available in 4 foot and 8 foot
lengths.  It has the correct color temperature of 6500K and a high CRI
of 92 (the best there is).  The color temperature difference between
6300K and 6500K is minimal as we are talking about a range which runs from
3000K for the common "white" fluorescent bulbs to 9000K for the common
"blue-white" color of many consumer televisions at their factory
settings.  I don't believe the CRI value is particularly relevant 
to our situation.  That is an index of the spectrum distribution of
light from the bulb and how accurately different colors will be
rendered in its light.  A high value means a spectrum like sunlight
and colors will look "natural" to our eyes.  Useful for interior
designers and the like, but since you should be reflecting your
light off a neutral gray or white wall behind the monitor, it
really doesn't matter.  IF YOU INSIST, the Durotest bulb is slightly
more expensive at $15 list.  But they are hard to find and stores
will not likely order a single one for you.  Durotest will sell
direct but requires a minimum of $75 per order.  Well I guess that
would net a lifetime supply or you could buy with some friends
(Durotest's phone is 1-800-289-3876).

One other alternative is to get a bulb with a high CRI in the
size you like and put a filter over it to correct the color temp
to 6500K.  Joe Kane actually uses a GE "F15T8 soft white" bulb
(which is supposed to be 3200K temp) and adds a ROSCO #3202 filter
to bring the color temp up to 6500K.  A similar option (not tried
by me) is to use one of the common "grow light" bulbs, which have
a high CRI (like sunlight), e.g. the SYLVANIA "Gro-Lux Wide Spectrum"
at 3400K and CRI=89.  You could call ROSCO (1-800-767-2669) for
the correct filter.

I have no affiliation with any of the mentioned manufacturers, they
were just the ones I was able to get specific info on.

-- 
                 "So many windows, So little time"

Bill Cruce, N.E. Ohio Univ. Coll. of Medicine, Box 95, Rootstown, OH 44272
VOICE: 216-325-2511,  FAX: 216-325-0522,  INTERNET: wlrc@uhura.neoucom.edu