correction under flourescent lighting

[jsatek]

Does anyone do paint corrections under flourescent lighting exclusively?

I use halogen.

[weekendwarrior]

I use flourescents on some cars. Since the tubes are so long, I can look at the reflection of the light on the panel for consistency along the whole length of the reflection from the flourescent (does that make any sense?). In addition, with some metallics, I find that halogens make the metallics pop so much, that it is hard for me to see the true quality of the paint - the metallic reflections distort it a little...in which case I pull out the flourescents as they are a little warmer, and don't make the metallics pop as much.

Here are a couple of examples of what I was saying about being able to evaluate the panel all along the length of the reflection from the flourescent....




The first shot is a black BMW hood, and the second is a metallic blue Honda hood.

[themightytimmah]

Originally Posted by jsatek

Does anyone do paint corrections under flourescent lighting exclusively?

I use halogen.

I only use flourescents for the compounding step. Finish polishing under flourescents is likely to end with a whole ton of hologramming - a car that looks perfect under them will sometimes look like a hack job in the sun.

[jsatek]

I agree. I thought it was extrememly difficult to work.

[Accumulator]

Yeah, and remember to actually *turn the fluorescents off* when inspecting with other, more appropriate lighting

[fergnation]

I hate fluorescents!!!!! For over all lighting they work great (washing, vacuuming, wheels) but when it comes time to do paint correction, I hate nothing more than fluorescents. When inspecting paint you need the direct light of halo's. The only way you can see scratches and swirls is when light reflects of the edges of the scratches. Fluourescents have such a soft light that they don't reflect off of the edges of scratches. That is why when you can't remove a scratch (too deep) the best you can do is round off the edges. That way the scratch is not as noticeable (light doesn't reflect as well). Sun light is the most direct light you can have, hense why you can see flaws so well.

[AP2TUDE]

I have tons of fluorescents in my garage, but I don't use them for any corrective work. You really need to have more direct and intense lighting for spotting actual defects.

I really contemplated a ring of ceiling mounted halogens in my new garage, but decided against it in favor of the easily moveable stand lights. Sometimes you just need the light in an exact location, and stationary lights wouldn't really cut it.