From: wls@cray.csd.uwm.edu (Bill Stapleton)
Subject: Summary: Lighting a video room
Reply-To: Bill Stapleton <wls@csd4.csd.uwm.edu>
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 21:09:18 GMT

Recently I asked here about lighting a video room, and I've received a few
interesting replies.  Several people quoted published sources indicating that
the only light in the room while viewing should be behind the TV, preferably
a low wattage daylight fluorescent, bounced off of the wall.  Others mentioned
track lighting, usually bounced off the ceiling for indirect lighting.  I'll
probably go with both of these ideas.  I've put a fluorescent desk lamp behind
my computer display at work, and I like the effect.

Thank you all very much for your replies.  Now here are most of the gory (but
interesting) details:

e-mail From: garyj@pyrtech.mis.pyramid.com (Gary Johnson)

> From the laserdisk "A Video Standard" They suggest lighting from the back
> of the TV, facing the wall. The wall should be a neutral color and/or
> pattern. They also say that the TV should be placed some distance away 
> from the wall (not practicle in my house).
> 
> Since you'll be installing the lighting from scratch, you might want to
> consider a Radio Shack "Plug 'n Power" setup. This is also known as the 
> X-10 system. By buying the modules, you can dim all of your lights via
> remote control. Couch potato nirvana.....

e-mail From: Richard Buro - Temple ISD <rwburo@tenet.edu>

> I do not have a video room at home, but at my office.  We use a mix of
> incandescent, recessed lights and flourescent lights in a large 15 x 45
> meeting area (seats 40 comfortably).  We have large screen projection
> using an Eiki LC-150 LCD projector onto an older Advent screen designed
> for use with an old three gun projector.  An angle on the screen helped to
> reduce glare from the overhead fixtures, with the angle being between 10
> and 15 degrees.  This is similar to keystone eliminators on standard AV
> screens, although the angle is much less in our arrangement.
> 
> The incandescents are on a rheostatic dimmer, and our normal procedure is
> to kill the flourescents and have the incandescents raised to about 15 -
> 20% of maximum for writing notes.  This room has only two very small
> windows high in the wall and only one outside door.  With miniblinds and
> the door closed, we have a very nice little theater.
> 
> In a home, you might want to think about track lighting where you could
> place your fixtures as you will.  Light bouncing on walls and ceiling will
> definitely help your glare problem.  Steer far as possible away from
> flourescent fixtures unless they are fully recessed and hidden in boxes. 
> They don't respond all that well to dimmers, so I would choose
> incandescent fixtures.
> 
> In my book, a set or two of track lights just might be the answer in your
> case.  Hope this helps.

e-mail From: wlrc@uhura.neoucom.EDU (William R. Cruce)

> The Reference Recordings laser disc #LD-101 for system setup, 
> A VIDEO STANDARD, has a nice section on proper lighting for the monitor
> environment.  I use 6300 K fluorescent bulbs behind the monitor
> (standard "daylight" bulbs from Sylvania, #F40D).  I sometimes
> use a small "daylight" bulb in a circular fixture to bounce light
> off the wall behind me (not recommended by AVS) if I need a little
> light to see my computer keyboard, etc.

e-mail From: kuehn@homer.super.org (James T. Kuehn)

> I've been very pleased with pocket lamps: these are essentially quarter-
> spheres that mount on the wall and cast light up along the wall and reflect it
> off the ceiling.  Sconces of various designs should provide the same effect.
> Very inexpensive and quite effective substitutes are 10" aluminum dish 
> "clip lamps" which can be put atop high bookshelves and pointed upward.
> The main point is to keep the wattage small (40-60W per lamp is plenty)
> and to use ONLY ceiling-reflected light.  The lights should be off to the
> sides of the room: those directly behind will cast too much light on the
> back wall (making its reflection visible) and those directly ahead 
> may prove distracting (unless very low in wattage).  I do use a pair 
> of lights on the video-screen wall but these are only 5W each 
> and are primarily to keep viewers from stumbling over furniture 
> when the room is completely darkened.
> 
> WALL COVERINGS:
> 
> I'd be wary of reflections off of your paneling: even dark paneling 
> has a shiny rather than a matte finish that can cause unwanted
> reflections on your screen.  I use a flat grey paint (a Colonial Williamsburg
> color) on the side and rear walls and a tan/grey string paper for the front
> (screen) wall to add a little texture and interest.  If you must hang
> movie posters or other framed objects under glass, place them on the
> side or front walls.  Otherwise, stick to soft and non-metallic wall
> hangings: native american rugs, framed designer fabrics, etc.

e-mail From: "Don Eastman" <deastman@vnet.ibm.com>

> I have a 60" rear projection TV in the center of a 16' wall.  My room
> is 16' x 22' with my seating position in the middle of the room as yours is.
> I am probably a little close to the TV but I like big images :).  I have
> a similar problem as yours since I have two large B&W 801 speakers and two
> equipment racks on each side of the TV with no tables for lamps.  Tables
> would look awful in this set up, and since I have a THX system, lamps on the
> side walls would not look appropriate with the side speakers in my opinion.
> 
> My wife actually came up with the idea of using track lighting on the ceiling.
> Not the huge large fixtures you see in most discount stores, but fixtures with
> low voltage (12v) halogen 50W lamps.  The halogen bulbs can be purchased in
> both SPOT and AREA coverage designs.  The lighting is controlled by a dimmer
> switch and can be adjusted from a warm glow to whatever serves your needs.
> I have five tracks lights, 4 with SPOTS which illuminate a hanging plant,
> two items on the top of the TV and a sculpture on top of one equipment rack.
> The AREA light illuminates two pictures on a side wall.
> 
> If you are interested in this type of lighting look for a good lamp only store
> which also carries track lighting.  You will be surprised at the quality of
> a good track lighting system (also the cost, my five fixtures, track and bulbs
> ran approx. $500).  The brand of the track lighting is Litolier, sp?
> 
> The nice thing about track lighting is that you can illuminate either small
> objects or large areas, add more light later or remove lights as you wish.
> The lights can be aimed as desired with virtually no reflections from any
> surface, especially if you equip the lamps with a diffuser.
> 
> I have the lighting installed between my seating position and the TV.

rec.video post From: long-morrow@cs.yale.edu (H. Morrow Long)

> According to Joe Kane and "The Perfect Vision" you should view in
> a darkened room with the only light source being behind the TV/monitor/
> rear projection unit/front project screen.  I believe Joe, in one 
> issue of TPV, specified exactly how much light that should be
> (footlamberts? candles?) and what its color temperature should be
> ( 6500 degrees white to match the monitor?).

rec.video post From: robe@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (robert.g.egan)

> 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. 

...and there you have it.  Thanks again!

--
Bill Stapleton
     wls@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
     uwmcsd4!wls
Newsgroups: rec.video