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The temperature of the ideal emitter that matches the color most closely is defined as the color temperature of the original visible light source. The color temperature scale describes only the color of light emitted by a light source, which may actually be at a different (and often much lower) temperature. [1] [2]
The higher the kelvin rating, the colder the color temperature. Bright or cool white light ranges from 7,000K to 10,000K. This light is great in dimly lit spaces like garages , attics, and work sheds.
The last two digits indicate the color temperature of the lamp in kelvins (K). For example, if the last two digits on a lamp say 41, that lamp's color temperature will be 4100 K, which is a common tri-phosphor cool white fluorescent lamp. BL is used for ultraviolet lamps commonly used in bug zappers.
The "warmer" light colors, such as a 2700 K incandescent bulb or a 1700 K candlelight, are more easily reproduced than more neutral white lights, such as 4800 K direct sunlight, and thus usually have higher CRI ratings in alternative light sources such as CFL and LED bulbs; "warmer" light (redder) naturally renders colors less accurately.
The color temperature of a white light source is the temperature in kelvins of a theoretical black body emitter that most closely matches the spectral characteristics (spectral power distribution) of the lamp. An incandescent bulb has a color temperature around 2800 to 3000 kelvins; daylight is around 6400 kelvins.
Color temperatures and example sources Temperature Source 1700 K Match flame, low pressure sodium lamps (LPS/SOX) 1850 K Candle flame, sunset/sunrise: 2400 K Standard incandescent lamps: 2550 K Soft white incandescent lamps 2700 K "Soft white" compact fluorescent and LED lamps 3000 K Warm white compact fluorescent and LED lamps 3200 K
Researchers use daylight as the benchmark to which to compare color rendering of electric lights. In 1948, daylight was described as the ideal source of illumination for good color rendering because "it (daylight) displays (1) a great variety of colors, (2) makes it easy to distinguish slight shades of color, and (3) the colors of objects around us obviously look natural".
"There's a lot of nuances around color temperature, color tone, intensity and volume," she says. "Sometimes it's hard for a regular eye to recognize a cold color verses a warm color." Or you can ...