Art Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

When looking for lighting for an art gallery it is best to choose lamps with a color temperature that is closest to daylight.

Art gallery lighting color temperature.

Contrary to popular belief sunlight is not yellow. Why is the color temperature of light important. With color temperatures ranging from 5 200 kelvin to 6 400 kelvin sunlight is actually blue. It s the mere fact that our eyes don t like the harsh brightness of this color temperature and is why we prefer sunglasses.

Regarding the lighting of art color temperature selection is based on the artwork being lit and what attributes the user wants to draw out. The correlated color temperature cct measured in kelvin refers to how warm or cool a light appears. The colour temperature used to light an exhibit will not only affect the colour appearance of the object or space but the mood communicated to the visitor. The color temperature of a light bulb is usually indicated by the manufacturer on the box.

Therefore it s better to place lighting with higher color temperatures 3000 4000k or cold white light more than 5000k in workstations like a desk office or restaurant kitchens. Bulbs with a cri of 80 to 100 are best at revealing vibrant natural hues. So a cool white light has a colour temperature of 4000k whereas a warmer light effect will have a colour temperature of 2800k. Artifical light also varies in terms of color temperature.

In my studio i use high quality 5 000k fluorescent lights. These are the closest temperatures artificial lighting can come to natural sunlight and it is also the color temperature range recommended for lighting art. Below is a color temperature range for light which is measured on the kelvin scale plus some interesting reference points. Color rendering index cri.

Too warm a bulb may tint work reddish yellow whereas too cool of a light can turn things blue. Often 3 000 3 500k is preferred yet anything between 2 700 5 000k may likely be chosen for art. Light over 5 000k is a bluish white color and is considered cool and light which is under 5 000k has a yellowish white to red color and is considered warm. It held it nicely while keeping the colors vibrant and separate from each other.