What is color temperature?
A world of light: What is color temperature?
Have you ever noticed that some light appears warm while others appear cold? Did you know that different light temperatures suit different situations? This article is the first in a series of two articles focusing on the fascinating world behind the science of light. The goal of these two articles is to give you an introduction to the scientific theory of light and then show you how you can actively use this knowledge to choose an LED lighting solution for your home, workplace or shop. This first article gives you an insight into the theory behind color temperature and provides an easy-to-use guide to choosing the perfect color temperature for different situations.
Humans can observe millions of colors. This may seem like common knowledge today, but it wasn't until 1931 that science defined a color triangle, which has since become a cornerstone of most lighting engineering studies.
The theory behind color temperature
What is color temperature? Color temperature is an indicator of the heat level in the heating process inside the light source at which an absolute black body can give off light of a certain color.
How is color temperature measured? The unit of measurement for color temperature is Kelvin, which is often just expressed using a K. Kelvin is defined as a unit of temperature measurement based on an absolute scale. In general, Kelvin measures the color of light. If the color temperature of a light source measures above 5000 K, the light will be described as cold, whereas a color temperature that measures between 2700-3000 K will be described as warm. Cold light appears bluish, while warm light appears more yellowish or reddish.
How do you choose the perfect color temperature of a light source?
It doesn't matter which color temperature you choose to illuminate your space. In fact, color temperature has a huge impact in various industries including film, photography and retail. For example, did you know that film studios have light sources specially manufactured to provide the exact color temperature that will best illuminate the interior? Galleries also carefully consider what color temperature to use to illuminate their art so that the art looks its best. Retail shop owners will also need to consider what color temperature to use to highlight their products and, most importantly, what effect this color temperature will have on the customer experience.
Why is color temperature important? Simply put, because color temperature has an effect on the mood of the room. In other words, color temperature greatly affects us and our mood. For example, if you are exposed to warm light in your workplace, your work efficiency is likely to decrease because the reddish light can make you more tired than cold light would.
Light sources have different light temperatures and this makes them useful in different situations. Therefore, you need to carefully select the color temperature you need before installing it in your home, workplace or shop. The choice of color temperature has a stylistic significance because the different colors of light create different emotions, moods and associations.
Here's a quick guide to what color temperature you can use in different contexts
Light sources with a color temperature of 5000K: this is the color temperature of daylight. This type of light is useful in situations where you want your artificial light to appear as "real" as possible. This color temperature is appropriate in galleries and studios, for example.
Light sources with a color temperature of 3000K: these light sources have a positive effect on people who work sitting for long periods in the same place. Therefore, this color temperature can be used in office landscapes, in the home or as general lighting somewhere else.
Light sources with a color temperature of 1200-2700K: this color temperature creates a warm and romantic atmosphere and can therefore be used in restaurants, cafes or other places where an intimate and cozy atmosphere is desired.
LED lights are available in both cold and warm color temperatures, so you can easily find a cost-minimizing and energy-efficient LED solution that will suit your needs. If you want to know more about color temperature or how LED can optimize your lighting, you are always welcome to contact us at Lumega.