08 Nov LED Color Temperature: Choosing a CCT for Your Project
To ensure that we can deliver an appropriate LED lighting solution for every situation, nearly every GKOLED LED light fixture is available in multiple color temperatures. But how do you decide which color temperature is right for your project?
WHAT IS CCT?
First, just what is color temperature?
Generally, any uniform white LED lighting will be perceived as white by the human eye, which naturally adjusts to different lighting conditions. However, white LED lighting is actually available in a range of subtle color variations, which become obvious when two different LED lights are placed next to each other. LED light can range from a warm yellow reminiscent of traditional incandescent lighting, to a cool bluish white resembling natural daylight. The term “color temperature” is used to describe the color cast of the light produced by a LED fixture.
Though the color temperature of a light can be identified by a name, such as “warm white” or “daylight white”, there is no consistency between names across different manufacturers. A more efficient way to identify the exact color temperature of a LED fixture is to refer to its CCT, or Correlated Color Temperature. CCT is a system of measuring color temperature that is uniform across the lighting industry, indicated in degrees Kelvin and measured on a scale from 0 to 10,000. Note that this doesn’t mean that the light fixture will be heated to the value indicated by its CCT – the number is descriptive, rather than literal.
How is CCT derived? Imagine a perfectly black object, such as iron or a piece of carbon, that is capable of being heated to extremely high temperatures. Because black absorbs all light, the only color that will be present in the object will be a direct result of the heat. When the object is heated to 1500K, it will begin to glow red. At 3000K, it will glow yellow. At 5000K, it will glow white, and when heated beyond that, it will turn blue. When we refer to the CCT of a LED light, the indicated Kelvin value correlates to the color the black object would turn if heated to the corresponding temperature. For example, a LED light with a CCT of 3000K will have the same yellow color as the black object heated to 3000K.
APPLICATIONS OF COLOR TEMPERATURE
Though which color temperature to use for a LED lighting project can be a matter of preference, different color temperatures are also useful for different applications.
A CCT of 3000K and below produces a warm light with a high proportion of yellow, similar to the light produced by traditional incandescent lighting. This type of LED light can create a comforting, cozy atmosphere that is perfect for residential applications. Our residential LED lights, including our Series GKOLS01 LED Landscape Lights and our Series GKOHSA LED Hardscape Lights, are available in 2700K, while our Series GKOFD03 LED Mini Flood Lights are available in 3000K. These lights are perfect for creating the warm atmosphere desired by many light design applications, such as uplighting and wall washing.
A CCT of 5000K and above produces a crisp white light with a high proportion of blue, comparable to natural daylight. Believed to boost concentration and productivity, LED lighting with this CCT is often preferred for commercial and industrial settings. GKOLED specializes in commercial LED lighting, and all of our commercial LED fixtures are available in a default color temperature of 5000K.
A CCT of 4000K produces a natural white light comparable to sunlight, and is a good choice for a project that requires neutral lighting. All of our commercial LED lighting is also available in 4000K, by special request.
(Please note that indicated CCT colors in infographic are approximate.)
WHAT ABOUT CRI?
The CRI, or Color Rendering Index, of an LED fixture, is used to describe the accuracy of colors rendered by the light as compared to that of an ideal light source, such as full daylight. CRI is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 corresponding to a light source with perfect color rendering, such as natural daylight. All GKOLED lighting features CRI ranging from 70 to 80, providing excellent color rendering for improved visibility.
Still not sure which color temperature is right for your project?
Our Chicago-based sales team is here to help. Call us at 630-793-9449 and tell us about your project. We would be happy to make a recommendation and provide you with a no-obligation, volume-based quote.