"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 14 Sep 2013 12:12:05 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote:
A flashlight lying on the floor makes tiny parts cast long shadows.

In theory, yes. In reality, silver-gray metal (screws, springs,
clips, etc.) on a gray concrete floor cast a gray shadow. And since
most things aren't white, the contrast is much better on my white
floor. YMMV.

I never had that choice at the R&D labs I worked in. The worst floor
for finding small parts is in the lab at Segway. It's a randomly
speckled tile that could hide a golfball.
jsw