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Colour temperature is an important concept in the lighting design industry, videography, and photography, helping designers understand the type of light coming from a source. This is because illuminating a space goes beyond the style of your lighting fixture. It also incorporates colour temperature. Colour temperature affects the ambiance of any space. Commonly referred to as Kelvin rating, colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). It helps you understand the visual features of diverse light sources. Colour temperature affects mood, photography, and general well-being. In this guide, you will understand colour temperature, its importance, and common applications. Colour temperature is the appearance of light that comes from a source. Measured in Kelvin (K), colour temperature was developed by the physicist William Thomson, which explains why it was named after him (1st Baron Kelvin). He created the temperature scale. According to experts, colour temperature is used to quantify the colour of light coming from a source (i.e. from reddish, warm or cool light to cool or bluish).
The Colour temperature Kelvin Scale is measured in Kelvin (K) on a Kelvin scale. This scale is between 1,000 and 10,000K. Below you will learn how the Kelvin scale works when measuring the right colour temperature of various lighting sources.
On the Kelvin scale, cool light is above 5,000K. Usually, this light is bluish and mimics the daylight of the noon hours. You will find this light in spaces that require clarity and contrast. This includes hospitals, design studios, and workshops.
Warmth of white light is ranked and falls below 3,200K on the Kelvin scale. A yellow hue characterises lighting sources with warm light. This hue mimics the warmth of a traditional incandescent light bulb. Moreover, it's important to note that this light is usually used to create a cosy, inviting atmosphere. This includes spaces such as living rooms and restaurants.
The natural light falls between 3,200K and 5,000K on the Kelvin scale. Also referred to as cool white; light, natural light emits balanced light(resembling that of natural daylight). Common applications of natural light include offices, classrooms, study rooms, and spaces that require clarity, concentration, and focus. Cool light favours workspaces that require high mental as well as visual concentration. On the other hand, warmer lighting is ideal for living spaces, social gatherings, etc. This is because it makes these spaces look better, and relaxed, inspiring a happy mood in people. Here are the top applications of colour temperature you should know.
Understanding how colour temperature works will help you achieve accurate colours for optimal photography and videography results. Since different light sources come with different colour temperatures, photographers and videographers should use a white balanced-based setting or filter to compensate for these unwanted variations. Case in point: to shoot in a studio room featuring tungsten lighting (of about 2,700K), you need a "tungsten" white balance setting to cancel out the orange hue.
In interior design, colour temperature plays a fundamental role, especially in dictating the mood of a space. For instance, designers use warm light to turn a room into a cosy, intimate space. On the other hand, cool lights are ideal for making a room feel more energetic, making the environment more productive. In a nutshell, lighting can influence how people think and interact with a space. colour temperature is used in office settings to minimise sick-offs, improve concentrations, and optimise performance. Neutral or cool lighting (between 4,000K and 6,500K) boosts concentration, minimises eye strain, and improves general well-being.
In commercial spaces, such as retail environments, marketers use colour temperature to augment the appearance of products. For instance, they use cooler lights to make products appear modern, vibrant, and exciting. On the other hand, warmer light highlights a product's textures, making it look more luxurious.
A colour temperature metre is used to measure colour temperature. Alternatively, you can use a light metre featuring colour temperature functions to measure colour temperature. These devices measure the hues of light and output the results as Kelvin ratings. It's important to note that you can use modern cameras and smartphones (with in-built white balance settings) to achieve your desired colour temperature setting.
*Key: The Colour Rendering Index is a measure of the quality of the light from the perspective of how faithfully it will illuminate objects showing their true colours. It is measured as a percentage with 100% for a light source which illuminates objects so they can be seen with their true colours. The CRI is then combined with the colour temperature of the light source to produce a 3 digit code which is often used by manufacturers to classify their lamps. The first digit is the CRI with 8 representing 80% and 6 representing 60% etc. The last 2 digits are the colour temperature in hundreds of Kelvin so 6000K would be represented by 60. So for example 840 means the lamp has a CRI of 80% and a colour temperature of 4000K.
Colour temperature, measured in Kelvin, is an important aspect of lighting, especially in lighting design, videography, and photography. Lighting affects how people perceive environments, affects your mood, and influences visual clarity. That's why you should understand the Kelvin scale and how different types of light can affect you. This will help you make better decisions when purchasing your lighting fixture. Master the basics of colour temperature to make the right choice when lighting up your space.
