Lighting the Way

Color Temperature is a term to describe the color range of lighting, but it is not something that many people know about or consider. However, it can be important to consider how much of a role color temperature can play in the setting and in the effect that one wants to create.

What is Color Temperature?

The color temperature of “white light” can be broken down into a range on the Kelvin temperature scale, based approximately on the colors of radiated light from a black-body (ie: anything hot enough to emit visible light). In this scale, anything above 5,000K is considered to have a cool, blueish color, while anything below 5,000K would be considered to have a warm, yellowish color. For an understanding of how accurately artificial light can be perceived relative to sunlight, take a look at the CRI or Color Rendering Index.

How Color Temperature is Created in LEDS

The diodes that emit light by default emit a cool blueish-white light. To “warm up” the LED, various amounts of a phosphor coating are applied to the diode, which yellows the emitted light to a warmer

Choosing a Color Temperature

Bulbs in the 5,000K+ range have more of a blue-white hue to them and are better for focus tasks or to convey an alert or clean setting. However, you wouldn’t want to run these same cooler bulbs in the more relaxed setting of a restaurant, hotel room, lobby or living room. For these areas, warmer bulbs in the 2,000-3,000K color temperatures would be preferred. Incorrect lighting can adversely affect the mood of individuals. Color temperature is setting dependent—and 100 percent subjective.

Consider

• Matching other lighting (outdoor lighting to match house lighting)
• Mood (dining outside vs. relaxing or socializing outside)

About EmeryAllen

EmeryAllen is a premier LED manufacturing company located in Charleston, South Carolina. With over 30 years of experience in the lighting industry, we specialize in the design, development and production of high performance miniature LED lamps for a variety of applications and settings both indoors and out.

www.emeryallen.com