In Northern European countries, for example, the trend will be towards warmer (yellower) colours. Whereas in Mediterranean countries, the trend will be towards cooler (whiter) light. But this is just a trend, an observation, and certainly not a rule…
White vs White: Make the difference
The hue of light, or colour temperature, is measured in degrees Kelvin ( K).
The lower the colour temperature (2700K or less), the more yellow the LED light will appear and the more warm white it will be. At 3000K we talk about warm white (between yellow and white: less yellow, but not quite white).
The higher the colour temperature (4000K, 6000K, 6500K), the whiter the LED light will appear (4000K) or even bluish white or daylight (6000K). The white of this LED lighting (6000K or more) is said to be cold or very cold (daylight).
Whiter than white is sometimes too white
A second important parameter is the so-called IRC index (or Colour Rendering Index).
This index, in addition to the chosen colour, qualifies the degree of purity of the LED lighting obtained. It is measured on a scale from 0 to 100. Good quality LED lamps for your displays or interiors will generally have a CRI of around 85. You can therefore juggle between a 2700K super warm white lamp or a 3000K warm white lamp with a CRI of 80 or 95.
Example: A 4000K LED lamp with a CRI of 95 means: a white lamp whose colour reproduction is 95% faithful. (ideal for jewellers)
By comparison, an orange sodium motorway lamp will have a Colour Rendering Index of between 20 and 29. For this reason, the colours are distorted and impossible to recognise. However, using an LED lamp, or a device that uses special diodes of even higher quality and a CRI of around 90-95, may involve a higher price tag.
How do you find your way around LED light colours?
To make things easier to understand, we can also compare the diodes used in LED devices to diamonds in jewellery: you can find diamonds and diamond rings of different purities.
You’ll pay more or less depending on the quality and the price you’re prepared to invest. Led lighting is no different. We can offer different types of diodes made to measure and a luminaire fitted with the perfect shade can be proposed to you.
A member of our team will be happy to visit you if you are unsure about your project. He or she will be able to show you the different types of LED lighting and the nuances and differences between them, as well as food lighting.
