| COLOR
TEMPERATURE |
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Correlated
color temperature (CCT) relates to the color of light produced by a light
source, measured in degrees Kelvin. Imagine a piece of tungsten metal
being heated. As it is heated the color of the metal will gradually shift
from red to orange to yellow to white to bluish white. The color of light
is measured along this scale, with the more orange color light being referred
to as "warm white" and the whiter color light being referred
to as "cool white". The table below lists the color temperature
of various light sources. Realize that the color temperature of specific
products may fall out of the ranges listed below. |
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|
CCT
(degrees) |
|
|
|
1500
K |
candle |
warm |
|
1800
K |
sunlight at dawn |
warm |
|
2000
K |
high pressure sodium light |
warm |
|
2700
K |
conventional incandescent light | warm |
|
2800
K |
warm white fluorescent light | warm |
|
3000
K |
halogen light | warm |
|
4000
K |
cool white fluorescent light | neutral |
|
5000
K |
sunlight at midday |
cool |
|
6000
K |
mercury vapor light |
cool |
|
6500
K |
daylight flourescent light |
cool |
| Warm color temperatures tend to enhance red and orange colors, adding a yellow tint to white items, and are typically used in homes and restaurants. Neutral color temperature lights do not bring out any particular color, and are common in retail stores. Cool color temperature lights enhance blue colors, adding a bluish color to white items, and are often used in hospitals and offices. |
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