Fluorescent Lights

[Amber DeLeo]

My studio is in my basement and my light source for editing are overhead fluorescent lights Kelvin 4200. Is a huge reason my prints don't match my screen?

[Damien Symonds]

In what way are your screen and prints not matching?

[Amber DeLeo]

Muddy, yellow and dull. My screen is turned all the way down and still in sRGB. I'm going crazy.

[Amber DeLeo]

Muddy, yellow and dull. My screen is turned all the way down and still in sRGB. I'm going crazy.

[Damien Symonds]

Flourescent at 4200 should be ok, but it seems like they're not, eh?  Have you viewed the prints in daylight, and do you notice a difference?

[Amber DeLeo]

They are bad in day light also. I called a Miller's and they say it's on my end. I've got to figure this out. 

[Damien Symonds]

Oh, Millers?  They always print too warm.  Have you tried any other labs?

[Amber DeLeo]

I'm placing a new order for test prints today before blowing money on a full order. I have one other question that I've been curious about. Why during calibration do we not test the ambient light?

[Damien Symonds]

For two reasons.

1. When devices test ambient light, they test them against ridiculous impractical standards that no rooms can ever meet.  So it gives you a fail no matter what.
2. Then, it tries to make you modify your calibration to "fix" your "failed" light reading.  It's a disaster.