Ambient Lighting Discussion...

[Hillside Trece]

In my current HT room, we have a fancy torch lamp that matches our room's decor in the left front corner by the sub/left main channel and a table lamp on an end table near the couches we sit on, and this table lamp contains an amber-colored night light in the base which also matches our room's colors and decor; the torch lamp additionally contains a "night light" in an amber color, but the light is so weak with this on, it hardly qualifies as a light, illuminating pretty much nothing...

When we watch films in this room, I normally keep the night light of the torch lamp on plus the night light of the table lamp, but during dark sequences, the table lamp's light is pretty distracting, coming from the side of our viewing position and casting a subtle glare on the SXRD screen. I know lighting during serious viewing sessions shouldn't come from the sides of the room like this, for exactly what we're suffering with, glare issues and distraction, but short of getting one of those lights go to behind the TV I don't know what to do in order to create an optimum environment in my viewing room...

I realize there's a sticky about this above, but do I need to invest in a light that comes from behind the screen? For the meantime, should I be leaving the table lamp night light off being that it's so prominent as it's close to us? If I leave that light off, that leaves the night light in the torch lamp, which pretty much leaves the room in total darkness, and thus we get some eye strain...

[Beta Man]

I say "total darkness" better that you begin to get use to it now......

[Alan Brown]

The human organism can "get used to" a wide range of environmental conditions and still function acceptably. Motion imaging industry scientists and engineers have studied human factors for over a century and developed ideal recommendations for electronic display viewing conditions. Opinions may vary, but the science has been proven correct over and over again by video program professionals and imaging experts over the last half century and more.

This article should help you understand the principles involved in your dilemma: 'The Importance Of Viewing Environment Conditions In A Reference Display System.' Here's another article that simplifies what is recommended for optimum video display viewing conditions: 'D65 Video Bias Lighting Fundamental Theory and Practice.'

Best regards and beautiful pictures,
Alan Brown, President
CinemaQuest, Inc.
A Lion AV Consultants Affiliate

"Advancing the art and science of electronic imaging"

[ixlegitballinxl]

ever consider the ikea light strips? Pics in my gallery of it, I'm sure you have heard of them around the forum. It def helps with eye strain. Beleive they run $49.99

[Alan Brown]

Originally Posted by ixlegitballinxl

ever consider the ikea light strips? Pics in my gallery of it, I'm sure you have heard of them around the forum. It def helps with eye strain. Beleive they run $49.99

They are the wrong color temperature for video.

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I say "total darkness" better that you begin to get use to it now......

You serious, Beta? Leave all lights off during film watching? Always?

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by Hillside Trece

You serious, Beta? Leave all lights off during film watching? Always?

That's how it looks best, in the darkness.

[Alan Brown]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

That's how it looks best, in the darkness.

Says who?

[Hawk7883]

Let's get a vote going

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by Alan Brown

Says who?

I just did!

[U4K61]

Originally Posted by Alan Brown

Says who?

It's all about contrast.

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

That's how it looks best, in the darkness.

No, it actually doesn't -- and it does cause severe eye strain, I know that much. I know you clearly stated to Alan that "you just did!" in terms of saying who stated this, but he provided clear examples of why this isn't so.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Hillside Trece

No, it actually doesn't -- and it does cause severe eye strain, I know that much. I know you clearly stated to Alan that "you just did!" in terms of saying who stated this, but he provided clear examples of why this isn't so.

Depends on what you are viewing ! A TV ~ OK maybe you need some lighting behind or within the room.

With a projector you want a pitch black room for the room does not stay that way with the projector on & the reflections of light coming off the screen onto the walls & ceiling . No eye strain what so ever Beta is right !!!

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by Hillside Trece

I realize there's a sticky about this above, but do I need to invest in a light that comes from behind the screen? For the meantime, should I be leaving the table lamp night light off being that it's so prominent as it's close to us? If I leave that light off, that leaves the night light in the torch lamp, which pretty much leaves the room in total darkness, and thus we get some eye strain...

I find that lights directly behind the TV would be distracting, so it's going to vary from person to person. I use wall sconces with a low watt bulb on dimmer switches that I can set - that also have a separate on/off button, so i can keep my settings the way I want.

It's probably just going to take some time to get the desired result. Try some inexpensive behind the set lights and see how you like it.

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by Deadset

I find that lights directly behind the TV would be distracting, so it's going to vary from person to person. I use wall sconces with a low watt bulb on dimmer switches that I can set - that also have a separate on/off button, so i can keep my settings the way I want.

It's probably just going to take some time to get the desired result. Try some inexpensive behind the set lights and see how you like it.

Thanks Dead; sounds like your sconces are as close to the dim table lamp night light that we use -- do you leave them dim?