Lighting

[EAT HEMI]

I am a firm believer that the sun usually tells no lies in regard to the status of the paint. However, not all of us have the luxury of getting our babies out in the sun this time of year.

Even so, I've shown my car at cruise's and have noticed that sometimes the paint imperfections are very noticable, while other times it looks flawless. Same holds true now as I detail in my garage.

Basically, I am frustrated by lighting. I am wondering if Mr. Phillips and others can chime in regarding use of proper lighting in detailing.

Specifically,

1) What type of lighting is best for detailing (fluorescent, halogen, xenon)
2) More wattage = improved paint condition assessment?
3) Should lighting be perpendicular to work area (i.e. like dropping a rock into a pond), or oblique (like skipping the rock across the pond)
4) Do different paint colors have different lighting needs?
5) Does imperfection type have any influence on its visibility?

I have a pair of weak fluorescent lights on the garage ceiling that are basically worthless. A 1000 W halogen tower lamp (2 lamps), and a xenon flashlight are what I use when I am detailing.

I have had the best success at evaluating my paint surface with my little xenon flashlight in the garage with all the lights turned off, but this is cumbersome.

Anyway, I am very interested in what you have to say. Thanks.

[alkemyst]

Re: Lighting

I am curious about this too. I though fluorescent was good, but now I see a lot about halogens. Looking to setup a light 'booth'.

[Justin A]

Re: Lighting

I found that the lighting that made my paint look its absolute WORST is the lights at the gas station at night. I'm pretty sure they're Fluorescents. Compound that with the distance from the surface and the intensity of the light, and it reveals anything that is imperfect with your paint. I would wager a guess that any light set up in a similar manner would have the same effect (i.e. halogen at the same distance/angle/output would reveal the same thing)...

[davey g-force]

Re: Lighting

As well as two high wattage flourescents on the ceiling, I have also set up a combination of flourescents and halogens on the walls of my garage. Two florescents on each wall beside the car as well as a halogen on the front wall and a halogen at the back above the garage door.

The wall flouro's are at about top-of-door height and all lights are independently switched. I find this setup very effective for evaluating my paint. Works for me!

*EDIT* My wife says I have a lighting fetish - I'm always wanting more lights!

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Lighting

I have the flourescents in the garage. I also have the xenon hand held. I use that to go around the car to see whats up with the paint. The xenon seems to pick up every defect in the paint.