Re: [ATM] How dark is dark?

["Jerry Reddell" <jerry.p.reddell63@sbcglobal.net>]

I suggest another experiment. Take two flat boards or pieces of cardboard
the same size. Paint one with flat black, Paint the other with glossy black.
Place the two boards in the center of the room and turn on the lights.
Which board shows greater reflections of the lights and objects in the room?

My guess is the glossy black board will clearly show the most reflections.

To me the above is an "ATM practical measurement" of the amount of light
reflection and absorbtion.

I am not sure how one knows matte black absorbs less but scatters more.  I
intuitively think matte black traps more of its reflected light but then I
also think that trapping is a part of the absorbing process. Surely the
Glossy black has similar trapping (maybe not as effective).

I personally think that definitive quantitative tests would require extreme
planning, expensive equipment, precise placement of equipment, careful work,
and highly disciplined analysis of the results. For example, one must
account for ambient light and eliminate stray reflections from objects other
than the test subjects. This suggests an enlosed volume to place the test
objects in. From there things keep getting more complex.

Jerry Reddell


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