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Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

  • 1.  Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-05-2019 05:16 PM

    Hello All,

     

    I'm currently researching LED bulbs our gallery. What color temperature do you all use, and is it known if there is a standard? Our frontrunner is 3000K, but I'd like to gather information from anyone who uses a different color (by choice), and why.

     

    Thanks for any insights.

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Aimee Baker

    Exhibit Specialist

     

    Center for Creative Photography  

    The University of Arizona

    1030 North Olive Road | Tucson,  AZ  85721

    (520) 626-5217

     

     



  • 2.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 06:46 AM
    Hi Aimee

    3000k is common in the US for museum and Gallery lighting since it is generally termed the neutral white. This means your whites appear more true whereas the 2700K will yellow the whites and the colder 4000k will show the whites as more blue. LED bulbs will differ based on brand so you may want to review different 3000K bulbs. If you are dimming the bulbs then be sure to check compatibility information with the manufacturer. Most dimmers installed originally for incandescent or halogen bulbs may not work well with the LEDs. You can do a test yourself as well. 

    There was a DOE paper written about the use of LEDs in Museum Lighting and I believe they came out with one specifically about LED lamps in the last several years. You might try to reference that information as well depending on how in depth you want to go. 

    If you have any further questions please feel free to reach out to me directly. 

    Sabrina Asquith, PMP
    Project Manager 
    sasquith2@gmail.com

    ------------------------------
    Sabrina Asquith
    Project Manager

    Sasquith2@gmail.com
    (845) 4994773
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 10:38 AM

    Sabrina,

     

    Thanks very much for this info. It seems like 3000K looks the clearest and most neutral to our eyes, but it's good to hear what the general consensus is before making the purchase.

     

    I will check out that paper too - Thanks very much for that reference.

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Aimee Baker

    Exhibit Specialist

     

    Center for Creative Photography  

    The University of Arizona

    1030 North Olive Road | Tucson,  AZ  85721

    (520) 626-5217

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-07-2019 06:35 PM
    Aimee, it looks like your question has generated a lot of good response! We too are in the process of transitioning to LED bulbs. Two comments I would add:
    - First a plug for 2700K- our preference for this may have come from 30 years of using 130volt quartz halogen bulbs in a 120volt building- this resulted in slightly lower light levels, a warmer color temperature, lower energy use and longer bulb life. I have seen some research (backed by my own experience) that as you lower light levels- to reduce damage to artifacts and save energy- a warmer temperature feels less “dingy”. I suppose you could call this the “candle effect”, like the warm glow at sunset. Maybe not the best for viewing all artifacts or art, but in a cultural history museum with furniture and related household artifacts, it seems to work.

    - Pay attention to the CRI (color rendering index of the bulb). Not all bulbs of the same color temperature put out the same quality of light. The higher the CRI, the more complete will be the light output, and the more “alive” things will appear.

    Thanks for generating a good conversation!

    Chuck

    Chuck Regier
    Curator of Exhibits
    Kauffman Museum at Bethel College
    300 East 27th, North Newton, KS 67117
    crregier@bethelks.edu
    316-283-1612 cell 316-217-6433


    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 07:03 AM
    Dear Aimee - we just switched to LEDs and selected (by consensus) 3000.

    Vivian F. Zoë, Director
    Slater Memorial Museum
    108 Crescent Street, Norwich CT 06360
    860-425-5560 vox
    860-885-0379 fax

    "Inspiration is for amateurs - the rest of us just show up and get to work," Chuck Close, 2003


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  • 6.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 10:39 AM

    Dear Vivian,

     

    Thanks very much for this info. It seems like 3000K looks the clearest and most neutral to our eyes as well, but it's good to hear what the industry consensus is before making the purchase.

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Aimee Baker

    Exhibit Specialist

     

    Center for Creative Photography  

    The University of Arizona

    1030 North Olive Road | Tucson,  AZ  85721

    (520) 626-5217

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 08:35 AM
    We use 3000K, a clean white light, excellent color rendering.

    ------------------------------
    Jeffrey Carr
    Exhibitions and Collections Manager
    Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University
    Athens OH
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 10:40 AM

    Dear Jeffrey,

     

    Thanks very much for this info. It seems like 3000K looks the clearest and most neutral to our eyes as well, but it's helpful to hear what the industry consensus is before making the purchase.

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Aimee Baker

    Exhibit Specialist

     

    Center for Creative Photography  

    The University of Arizona

    1030 North Olive Road | Tucson,  AZ  85721

    (520) 626-5217

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 09:10 AM
    Hi Aimee,

    Here are a few resources (I am sorry if you have already looked these over) which we found helpful in our switch over to LED. I believe these are the the same reports that Sabrina mentioned below. 

    http://www.connectingtocollections.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Getty-Gateway-Demo-Assessment-of-LED-Retrofit-Lamps.pdf


    https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/2012_gateway_smithsonian.pdf


    https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/agents-deterioration/light.html


    Good luck!

    Erin Beveridge

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  • 10.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 10:14 AM
    Hi, Aimee

    I agree with everyone's recommendation that 3000K is optimum.  We started experimenting with LEDs as soon as there were dimmable varieties and found that the bluer 4000K didn't work for us at all.  The colder, bluer light gave to space a stark rather than welcoming feel. 

    Something else to consider are the other instruments in your gallery space.  If, like us, you have some specialty instruments in your galleries with lamps for which there is no LED option and you have to use incandescent, we will sometimes mix in a few of the warmer 2700K in those areas to help "even out" the overall appearance of the light.  Best of luck with you project.  The change has been very positive for us saving money in the longer term, and many hours of changing lamps.

    ------------------------------
    Deborah Bigness
    Manager of Site Operations, Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark
    Museum of Texas Tech University
    Lubbock TX
    deborah.bigness@ttu.edu
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 10:45 AM

    These are great – Thanks for sending these, Erin

     

    Aimee Baker

    Exhibit Specialist

     

    Center for Creative Photography  

    The University of Arizona

    1030 North Olive Road | Tucson,  AZ  85721

    (520) 626-5217

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 10:34 AM

    Hi Aimee,

     

    SEAHA held a great conference in Sept. 2017, 1st International Museum Lighting Symposium & Workshops.  Here is a link to all the speakers https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfc2VjFS5JVxmE6gnePz9tQ/videos , and I would recommend specifically Scott Rosenfeld's and Ronnier Luo's talks.  This is not to say that any other is any less worth watching/listening to. 

     

    Hope this is helpful!

    -Scott

     

    S. Scott Scholz

    Deputy Director & Curator

    Dumbarton House




    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 10:51 AM

    Thank you, All, for these resources and feedback. This is exactly the information we're looking for.

     

    Aimee Baker

    Exhibit Specialist

     

    Center for Creative Photography  

    The University of Arizona

    1030 North Olive Road | Tucson,  AZ  85721

    (520) 626-5217

     

     




    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-06-2019 11:42 AM
    We spent about a year changing out all the lights in our museum.  The new LEDs in the galleries are now around 4200-5000.  There was some push back initially from some staff fearful about how bright these were going to be, but the difference in clarity on artifacts and wall panels is striking, and everyone seems to be a convert now. Text is a lot more readable especially for those with vision issues, and the artifacts look better and colors are more accurate with the higher temperature. In our experience light temperatures 3500 and below cast a yellowish tinge to the environment, and while it's softer look for complexions, it's not the ideal lighting for artifacts, in my view. The old lighting throughout the museum was dingy looking, and we really wanted to get away from that. 

    We are currently renovating our museum store, and unfortunately to save money, we are leaving existing fluorescent lighting across the ceiling. We are installing some LED tracks that are 4500, so we're hoping those spots provide some brighter lighting to the merchandise.

    ------------------------------
    Melissa Russo
    Director
    San Bernardino County Museum
    Redlands CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-07-2019 04:49 PM
    We are currently using mostly 3000K and 3200K LED lamps.  However, we have discovered that after the lamp has been in use for a while the color temperature lowers and can get quite a bit yellower.  This is one reason we are considering a lamp with a cooler color temperature, perhaps 3800 - 4000K.  We also are considering the cooler temperature lamps when artwork requires under 10 foot candles since cooler light is perceived brighter in low light even when the foot candles are the same as warmer light.  Contrast and color rendering is also improved with cooler temperatures at low foot candles.  

    Lamps of different color temperatures should be mixed in adjacent galleries to those with warmer light or cooler light to allow the viewer's eyes to adjust and not see light as distinctly yellow or blue.  Lamps are now coming out where the color temperature can be changed with a small switch.  The ones I've seen have three temperature settings.  

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    James DeYoung
    Senior Conservator
    Milwaukee Art Museum
    700 N. Art Museum Drive
    Milwaukee, WI  53202
    ph:  414-224-3269


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  • 16.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-07-2019 08:55 PM
    Hello All,

    I spent over 5 years in the architectural exhibit lighting working with museums and galleries, so I just wanted to share some additional information that I learned over the ears.

    FYI, shifts in color temperature and output can be due to various factors, some of which are the consistency of the color over the lifespan that the manufacturer offers with their technology. This can be checked in warranty information.

    Shifts in color and output may also be due to overheating of the lamps in fixtures that do not have proper ventilation, this is common when using LED lamps in fixtures originally designed for incandescent or halogen lamps. While LEDs produce far less heat, there is always some level of heat production and LEDs must have proper thermal management. Usually this is taken care of with LED fixtures designs that have venting in the back and front around accessories to allow for air flow around the lamp and a way for the heat to escape out of the back of the fixture.

    LEDs are typically designed with heat sinks that pull the heat away from the LED diodes but if the heat can’t escape it shortens the life of the lamp exponentially. Using LED lamps with incompatible dimming systems may also impact the performance and life of yet lamps as well and should be taken into consideration.

    Not all LED technology is alike and I always advise checking manufacturer data and warranty information to know what you are getting. I hope this is helpful.

    Sabrina Asquith, PMP

    sasquith2@gmail.com
    845-499-4773


    Original Message


  • 17.  RE: Gallery Lighting Color Temperature

    Posted 03-07-2019 10:16 AM
    ​

    Hi Aimee,

    I recently led our effort to convert from halogen lamps to LED lamps here at the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Our focus was on the quality of the brand and not specifically on the color. We approached our testing with 3000 Kelvin bulbs already in mind.   Our Curatorial Staff, (myself, our Director, Curator and Collections & Exhibitions Manager) met to look at various lamps to judge the effectiveness of their CRI (color rendering index). Those with a higher CRI (above 91) were best. A CRI of 100 is comparable to natural daylight. We selected two brands, one with a CRI of 91, an economical solution for lighting floors within the galleries and non-exhibition spaces. The other brand had a line of bulbs that provided a CRI of 95 and their catalog of lamps has a wide selection of sizes, and a proven track record of museums adopting their technology.

    I hope this is helpful,

     

    Matthew Mangold

    Chief Preparator, Vero Beach Museum of Art


    Original Message


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