Studio wall/ceiling color choices

I'm within about a week of completing a project to convert my detached

garage (20 feet by 20 feet, 9-12 foot ceiling, northwest wall of

windows, skylight...) to a room that will be used for multiple

purposes including a photography studio and an art studio (and maybe

an exercise room).

 

Because there are multiple uses, and more than just me to please, I

don't see it as practical ('survivable' might be a better word :) to

paint the walls and ceiling a neutral grey color -- much less black!

-- and have window/door coverings in that color. The floor will be a

brown/tan color (the color of particle board), much like a gym floor

color.

 

For photography, I mostly want a place to learn and then do

portraiture. But with natural light as well as studio lights (there

is an 8' door space that will open to let in light as well).

 

It is time for me to pick the wall/ceiling colors. I know that they

need to be neutral so that the bounced light will be neutral. How do

you know, among the dozens of "white" colors that any paint store

carries, which ones are "neutral"? Is there any standard that paint

stores follow (like Pantone colors?).

 

Any advice and comment welcome and appreciated.

 

John

John, for a start I would say use a completely flat/matt colour would be better than a glossy one that would reflect light in unpredictable ways...

I converted a small garage, 12x20x9 into a art/photo studio and used a flat grey paint for

the walls with flat white for the ceiling. I used "American Tradition�Gravity Grey Flat

Interior" Item number 4005-1B at Lowes. This was the most neutral grey I could find It was

not to dark or light. I used flat white but a primer white because it was the purest white I

could find. I painted it white because I use full spectrum florescence lights pointed up that

bounce off the ceiling to paint under. You can see a portion of the studio under the thread

"How to photograph art pieces" in this forum.

i would choose a matt neutral grey as described before and get loads of felt or cloth so you

can control the light from the walls and floor. a white felt floor to lift shadows and a black

one to deepen etc, and have a load of stands and clamps at hand to flag any other unwanted

light off with the felt on boom arms. some polystyrene boards 8foot by 4 painted black on

one side are very valuable as the white is pretty neutral from the ploiystyrene, and the black

stops bounce etc when used, they are light to move, very cheap, and stackable when you

want to have a gym