When showing an old black and white movie what color should the whites appear? Should they be a faint shade of red, or should they be steel like shades of gray with no hint of color?

If they appear reddish, does that mean the projector isn't calibrated properly?

Some people like to watch B&W at D54, rather than D65. Whether this is technically correct is a matter of debate, and like a lot of things, comes down to personal preference. Compared to D65, D54 would look a little more red.

Rob

. Compared to D65, D54 would look a little more red. Rob

So D65 should be reddish? It seems inconsistent with watching a B/W tv set, which always looks gray with no colors.

No D54 is more reddish than D65 which is pretty much neutral.

Older b&W movies varies depending on restoration and mastering.
But as a general guideline D55 is the correct color temp for movies and 5200K for black&white photos. Now the real question is if your PJ can track the D55 properly.

I've seen a dozen restored black and white films projected on large screens. My favorite is Metropolis which is a silent film at the Michigan theater in Ann Arbor some years ago. The film was a steel grey color not red, blue or green.

IMO D65 is real close but even a higher color temp might in fact be closer to the black and white film look.

Art

The film was a steel grey color not red, blue or green.

IMO D65 is real close but even a higher color temp might in fact be closer to the black and white film look.

Art

So when I project a B/W movie, it should show up as steel gray? And if it doesn't, then the calibration isn't D65?

So when I project a B/W movie, it should show up as steel gray? And if it doesn't, then the calibration isn't D65?

IMO that is the case (at least within striking distance) of course this conversation is the epitome of how to be inaccurate.

Most of my several hundred black and white DVDs,HDDVDs ans BDs look that way.


Art

I think as long as you like the look who cares? The only image that would definitely be incorrect is one that is pinkish on the left and blueish on the right...unless of course you like that too.:eek:

I personally prefer the steel gray look over the reddish look. My projector has a specific B&W (D55?) film mode - that I don't use.

It's been a long time since I viewed a B&W movie in the theater, but in my recollection I seemed to remember the picture having a silver look in the light areas, especially those blonde ladies. This is how my projector looks with old B&W dvds in its D65 setting.