Also:
http://thepropden.aokforums.com/black-p ... t1059.html
There is a big difference between how something appears on film versus how something appears in an exhibit. We hope that the exhibit Vaders were painted with the same paint. The photos you see -- and the brightness of the metallic gray highlights -- will depend on the intensity and proximity of the camera flash.
How it appears on the film will vary from scene to scene. It could have been very bright in the restoration chamber (white background) but don't forget the post production video editing -- as well as the brightness/contrast ratio of your own television or flatpanel display.
The problem is, we've never seen a scene of Vader under natural light. Also, home-based lighting can hardly approximate the lights used on the set, as well as
how they lit the set.
Here is a DP DLX original mask under kitchen lighting comprised of 2 long fluorescent tubes behind a grid-like sheet that does some diffusing. The cabinets and wall are white.
The Black Pearl paint will help achieve this effect. The screen look appears to be slightly brighter, but I have no evidence that Don Post used the exact same paint mix. It's possible LFL brightened Black Pearl, but then it's possible to light the Vader to achieve the same effect.
Painting vs. lighting.
Lighting vs. painting.
Gosh, I'd love to ping the LFL prop people on this.