What is color temperature?
1. What is color temperature?
(1) Intuitive understanding
Color temperature is our intuitive visual perception of the color of light. The lower the color temperature, the warmer the tone (reddish), and the higher the color temperature, the cooler the tone (bluish). The following figure shows the color temperature changes from morning to noon during the day:
(2) In-depth analysis
Color temperature is a unit of measurement that represents the color components contained in light. Theoretically, the blackbody temperature refers to the color of an absolute blackbody when it is heated from absolute zero (-273°C). After being heated, a black body gradually changes from black to red, to yellow, to white, and finally emits blue light. When heated to a certain temperature, the spectral component of the light emitted by the black body is called the color temperature at this temperature, and the measurement unit is "K" (Kelvin).
If the light emitted by a certain light source has the same spectral component as the light emitted by a black body at a certain temperature, it is called a certain K color temperature. For example, the color of the light emitted by a 100W light bulb is the same as the color of an absolute blackbody at 2527°C, then the color temperature of the light emitted by this light bulb is: (2527+273) K=2800K.
2. How to choose the color temperature when buying lamps?
(1) Select color temperature according to application scenario
When the color temperature of the light source is different, it will give people different feelings. The color temperature can be selected according to different application scenarios:
| Shade type | Color temperature range | how people feel | Applicable scene |
| warm light | Below 3300K | Steady and warm | Suitable for families, residences, dormitories, hotels and other places or places with low temperatures; adjusting the light to warm colors before going to bed can maintain the secretion of melanin. |
| Neutral color light | 3300K to 5000K | Pleasant, comfortable, peaceful | Suitable for shops, hospitals, offices, hotels, restaurants, waiting rooms and other places. |
| cool light | 5000K and above | Bright and cold, it makes people concentrate and makes it difficult to fall asleep | Suitable for offices, conference rooms, classrooms, drawing rooms, design rooms, reading rooms, exhibition windows and other places. |
| Residential | Hotel | office | School | Hospital | photography | fabrication | jewelry |
| 2700~3000K | 2700~3500K | 3500K | 3500K | 4000K | 5500K | 4000~6000K | 6000~7000K |
| bread | fresh meat | apparel | fruits and vegetables | gold jewelry | silver jewelry | jade | Aquatic products |
| 2500K | 3000~3200K | 3000~4000K | 4000K | 3000K | 7000K | 4000~5000K | 6000~7000K |
(2) Choose color temperature according to interior decoration
The color temperature used for indoor lighting must match the basic color tone of the interior decoration. Correct use of white light color temperature can greatly improve the interior decoration effect. Using color temperature lighting suitable for the decoration color tone is an important method to ensure lighting quality. Select the color temperature of the light source, It should be considered comprehensively with the indoor walls, floors, furniture, decorations, and the purpose of the room. The figure below shows the relationship between color temperature and furniture
(3) Select the color temperature according to the person’s physical condition
For the elderly and children, low color temperature lighting should be used as much as possible; different color temperatures have a certain impact on people's emotions. Warm colors will make people feel comfortable, while cold colors will make people think clearly; patients with autism and depression should not Living in an environment above 4000K for a long time; long-term use of color temperatures above 6500K may cause macular degeneration of the human retina. Therefore, for special groups of people, careful consideration is needed when selecting the color temperature of the light source.
3. Extend reading
(1) Color temperature and brightness
Under the illumination of a high color temperature light source, if the brightness is not high, it will give people a cold atmosphere; under the illumination of a low color temperature light source, if the brightness is too high, it will give people a stuffy feeling. Contrast of light color: When two light sources with large differences in light color are used in the same space, the contrast will produce a gradation effect. When the light color contrast is large, not only the brightness level can be obtained, but the light color level can also be obtained.
(2) Color temperature and photography
When shooting with natural light, because the color temperature of the light is different at different time periods, the colors of the photos taken are also different. For example, when shooting under a clear blue sky, the color temperature of the light is higher, so the photo will be cooler; if you shoot at dusk, the color temperature of the light will be lower, so the photo will be warmer. When shooting with artificial light, different types of light sources may result in different tones of the photos taken.
