Screen Light Bar and image viewing

[Eric Stevens‏]

My computer work station employs two 25" Dell UP2516D monitors which
are color managed. I have long been concerned at the conflict at
getting asufficiently dark working environment for the display and
having enough light to see what I am doing on my desk. I recently
bough two cheap light bars to hang on the monitors to enable me to
find out exactly what effect they have. The link below is shot of the
two monitors and the work space in their immediate vicinity.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ao0elnDt9zAUjzoQNHCOSyMsLXK7?e=1DoQ8s

The screens are at about 38% brightness. The light bars are adjustable
for both hue and brightness. I have them set to white at about half
intensity. The work area around them is more than adequately lit. The
light bars do cast some light on the screens but the light is so
nearly parallel to the surface of the screens that it is reflected on
downwards and has no effect on the viewed image. The two images are a
random selection from a folder as chosen by the computer. The camera
was a Nikon D750 with exposure set to not quite over expose. There is
no editing other than slight sharpening.

Compared with what is apparent in ordinary shaded daylight the images
look glorious and I can still see what I am doing on the desk
extremely well. I can highly recommend them. Anyone who is interested
should Google 'Light bar'.

--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

[Bill W‏]

On Oct 7, 2021, Eric Stevens wrote
(in article<6l0vlgd82iactcmq2...@4ax.com>):

No link to the ones you bought?

[Eric Stevens‏]

On Thu, 07 Oct 2021 21:08:17 -0500, Bill W <not...@nowhere.com>
wrote:

I bought it through a local importer from China. The link would not be
much use to you. I suggest that you do a Google image search for
'Light Bar'. You should find many different types. Most of them are
designed for use on lap tops and can pose problems when trying to
attach them to desk top monitor. I would be surprised if you couldnt
find something suitable.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

[Whisky-dave‏]

So the light bars are to see the keyboard, and desk nice idea a bit like the lights you can stick to kitchen cupboards
so you can see the work surface.

But personally I'd have put them under the monitors, so less likely to distract from the images on screen.

One think I like about Apple laptops are the illuminated keyboard.
I wonder if Apple will ever make the avaible for desktop computers too.

I guess you could use an old fashioned angle poised lamp and direct it on a cup of coffee
or whatever

[Eric Stevens‏]

Not necessary. The direct view of the light source is shielded from
the eye of the viewer.

>
>One think I like about Apple laptops are the illuminated keyboard.
>I wonder if Apple will ever make the avaible for desktop computers too.
>
>I guess you could use an old fashioned angle poised lamp and direct it on a cup of coffee
>or whatever

--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

[Whisky-dave‏]

I can see them in the photo so not that shielded and the viewpoint if sitting at the desk would be even lower
so I would have thought better to have them below the screens and further to the back.

Well that's what I'd do if I felt such lighting was necessary

[Eric Stevens‏]

rOn Mon, 11 Oct 2021 05:49:37 -0700 (PDT), Whisky-dave

That may or not be better but that's not the way they make them. I'm
happy with them the way they are. This way, they are directing the
light down. If they were lower they would be directing the light back
to me, which I don't think I would like.

What I didn't mention previously is that the lights run off a USB
port. I use one of the ports on each screen.

>
>Well that's what I'd do if I felt such lighting was necessary
>
>> >
>> >One think I like about Apple laptops are the illuminated keyboard.
>> >I wonder if Apple will ever make the avaible for desktop computers too.
>> >
>> >I guess you could use an old fashioned angle poised lamp and direct it on a cup of coffee
>> >or whatever
>> --
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Eric Stevens

--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

[Whisky-dave‏]

Ok, maybe the ones I've used are differnt and for a differnt use.
I guess I'd choose something different with a fun aspect as an aditional idea.
I have a 3 metre set at home, but never thought about using them the way you have.

https://youtu.be/jnc8GyF0kh0

[Eric Stevens‏]

It wouldnt suit us. Our cats are ginger.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

[Eric Stevens‏]

On Tue, 12 Oct 2021 05:46:15 -0700 (PDT), Whisky-dave
<whisk...@gmail.com> wrote:

---< snip > ---

>> >> > So the light bars are to see the keyboard, and desk nice idea a bit like the lights you can stick to kitchen cupboards
>> >> >so you can see the work surface.
>> >> >
>> >> >But personally I'd have put them under the monitors, so less likely to distract from the images on screen.
>> >> Not necessary. The direct view of the light source is shielded from
>> >> the eye of the viewer.
>> >
>> >I can see them in the photo so not that shielded and the viewpoint if sitting at the desk would be even lower
>> >so I would have thought better to have them below the screens and further to the back.
>> That may or not be better but that's not the way they make them. I'm
>> happy with them the way they are. This way, they are directing the
>> light down. If they were lower they would be directing the light back
>> to me, which I don't think I would like.
>
>Ok, maybe the ones I've used are differnt and for a differnt use.
>I guess I'd choose something different with a fun aspect as an aditional idea.
>I have a 3 metre set at home, but never thought about using them the way you have.
>
> https://youtu.be/jnc8GyF0kh0

Seeing your LED strip made me realise I hadn't pointed out another
feature of mine. The light strip contains two rows of LEDs: one white
and the other with a yellow tinge. They can be conrolled in brightness
and also switched between all white, mix of white and yellow, and all
yellow. Yellow is a bit of a misnomer. It's more like the light from
the old fashioned incandescent light. I normally run them on white at
half power.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

[Whisky-dave‏]

interesting mine strip is quite old modern ones have a RGB LED and a white one.
But as you can see any light of any colour has an effect as it's reflected off anything even
a calibrated screen, or an uncalibrated and hungry cat whether it's white, ginger any colour,
other than possibley black. :-)


> Regards,
>
> Eric Stevens

[Eric Stevens‏]

On Mon, 18 Oct 2021 05:24:57 -0700 (PDT), Whisky-dave

That's one of the advantages of having the strip at the top of the
screen. The incident angle on the screen is so near zero that none
enters the screen or the viewers eye. It's reflected to the
desktop/keyboard at the base of the screen. It has virtually no effect
on the incident light on the screen.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens