I can't speak for Gregg, but I have studied the subject for a couple of decades. "Bias lighting" is a better term than "back lighting" due to the potential confusion between display viewing environment lighting versus the light source used in LCD display construction that illuminates the image.
I suggest this new section of the forum be re-named. The current name perpetuates a misunderstanding in the home theater community that has caused much confusion over the years when discussing reference imaging and display performance. Re-naming it might set a constructive, consistent example for others. A better title for this subject matter would be "Display
System Calibration." Adjusting the display device alone does not guarantee accurate imaging in the context of the entire video
system.
It can be easily demonstrated that conflicting viewing environment conditions can distort the viewer's perception of a video display. The image from a perfectly calibrated display can be rendered inaccurate by other factors in the video
system. If the viewer's goal is image fidelity, every element in a video display
system that affects the picture, and the viewer's perception of the picture, must be considered. The ambient lighting in a room, or the absence of it, can have a profound effect upon the appearance of a display, eye comfort, and viewer fatigue. This reality makes bias lighting an important consideration when designing
systems that use televisions and monitors.
The cynics typically inhabiting public discussion forums such as this one will be tempted to diminish the validity of my comments on this subject because my company manufactures video bias lighting. The following list includes others in the motion imaging industry who are confirmed to recommend, specify, define, and use color correct video bias lighting:
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE)
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Industrial Light and Magic (ILM)
The Imaging Science Foundation (ISF)
THX, Ltd.
Electronic Arts (EA)
Deluxe
Microsoft Corporation
Image Entertainment
Universal Studios
PostWorks
Joe Kane Productions
Ovation Multimedia
DisplayMate Technologies
CNET Labs
Radical Games
Factor5 Studios
High Moon Studios
CinRam
Rev13 Films
Advanced Television Evaluation Lab- Communications Research Centre- Canada
Apple Corporation
Filet Post Production
Post and Beam
Cheyenne Mtn. Entertainment
Zombie Studios
CBS Television
Deluxe Digital Studios
Splice Here
Slant Six Games
New Hat LLC
Roush Media
Samsung Germany
Digital Film Lab- Denmark
Nice Shoes, VFX New York
Desperate Housewives, Editorial
Rockhopper Post
Live Nation Studios
LionAV Consultants
Avical
Technicolor-NY
Technicolor-Canada
Max Post
Bandito Brothers Studio
Chainsaw Edit
Twin Cities Public Television
Colorflow Post
ABC Television
The Moving Picture Company
Dolby Labs
Dreamworks Animation
Univ. of Quebec at Montreal
No6 Studios
UberMedia-Canada
Powderhouse Productions
Colorama
ColorWorkz
IndieColor
Simplexity Digital Post
The Mews-London
Contact Studios
Blue Post-Australia
The Cutting Room
Shapeshifter Post
Fading Signal
Oroboros Films
Keystone Pictures-Canada
90 Degrees West
Blizzard Entertainment
Jam Edit
Hotpixel Post
Special When Lit
Flanders Scientific
Ed Kulzer Post
Out Of The Blue NY
Blacklist Productions
Vision On
Pure
Van Hurkman Productions
Ninja Goldfish
Color Image Post
Red Futon Films
235 Studios
Pinata Studios
Flavour Productions-Portugal
Color Cafe
Greenasia Production Co.-Thailand
SRJ Media Services
Encore Hollywood
Headquarters Post
Light Of Day Studio
Jupiter Entertainment
Digital Post Ink
Films In Motion
Matero Productions
MTI Film
POSTDIGITAL
Buck NY
echoblack productions
Studio Element
Virginia Tech
Independent Edit
Engineering & Consulting Services
Film Tek: Lost Planet Editorial
Oblique FX-Canada
Whipping Post Services
McIntosh Productions
Wildbrain Animation Studio
Herzog & Company
Digital Cave Media
Westwind Media
Comprehensive Technical Group
Running Man Post
Post-Op Media
Red Echo Post
David Snow Design
The Criterion Collection
Junebug AVO
Fancy Film
UBC Digital Multimedia Lab- Canada
Quanti Studios
Perhaps you can conclude from this list how important correct bias lighting implementation is to achieving and maintaining reference quality imaging. Here are some links to articles that provide more depth on this topic:
'The Importance Of Viewing Environment Conditions In A Reference Display System''D65 Video Bias Lighting Fundamental Theory and Practice'
Best regards and beautiful pictures,
G. Alan Brown, President
CinemaQuest, Inc.
A Lion AV Consultants Affiliate
"Advancing the art and science of electronic imaging"
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