Indirect fluorescent lighting for video conferencing

[kreutz]

Hi,

I have a 4x4 meter room in my office which is used for video conferencing. I would like to light up that room using indirect fluorescent lighting as the current lighting is terrible. We sublet that room to clients sometimes and some of them were unhappy with the lighting (on the far end). Too many shadows, etc. I literally don't know where to start. Could anybody help me out with the basics?

The general guide is this:

Videoconferencing systems usually work well without special room treatment or
lighting. However, to get the best from your videoconferencing room, consider
the following suggestions.
The Best Lighting
The best light source for videoconferencing is indirect fluorescent lighting, such
as louvered ceiling lights set at a 45-degree angle. Indirect lighting minimizes
shadows on participants’ faces. The result? Everyone sees a more flattering
image of your meeting participants. To get the truest skin tones, you can install
fluorescent lights with a color temperature of 3500-degrees Kelvin. 
If you want to measure the illumination in the room, use a hand-held light meter.
Light intensity should be at least 70 foot-candles (740 lux) when you direct the
meter at your participants’ faces.
What should you avoid? • Mixing fluorescent and incandescent lights that
operate between 30 and 50 kHz.
• Variable light sources such as direct sunlight.
Consider window treatments to control the
lighting coverage.
• Strong light sources behind participants. It will cause
people to appear as darkened silhouettes losing
most of the facial detail.

What I am wondering is:
- what type of lights should I buy;
- how I should arrange them in relation to the table and camera;

Thanks,
kreutz

 

[RF Lighting]

What's the ceiling type?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

A bit more info here: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/tel...uide/video_conferencing_room_primer_ver02.pdf

(If you've ever used their immersive telepresence systems you'll know that Cisco know a thing or two about it).

You might be best off engaging a consultant with expertise in video conferencing room design....

 

[kreutz]

I've been thinking about it, but they are just too expensive and the studio isn't used enough to justify the cost.

What's the ceiling type?

It is a T-Bar ceiling.

 

[ninjacat]

We have a few of the Cisco TP units here. The light is around the unit itself, tucked behind the screen and bounced of a curved reflector towards the participants. It still needs a well lit room to make it look natural., Also the colour temp of the lights is very important.

If you look at TV/ Video lighting you would probably be trying to either bounce the light off a soft reflector or have a diffuser in front of some fluorescent tubes. Lots of light from the front and some from the top or back to model the person.