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What is Colour Temperature?

Colour temperature is a measure of how warm or cool the light given off by a lamp appears. 'Warm' colours appear tinged with yellow and generally feel soft and cosy. Cool colours are tinged with blue and appear whiter, making them a more 'honest' and unforgiving light more suitable for working environments than relaxing.

Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). The lower the colour temperature value in Kelvin, the warmer the colour so obviously higher values refer to cooler colours. Confused? Imagine a naked flame, as it's temperature increases, it's colour becomes whiter (cooler). A white flame is always a higher temperature than an orange flame.

Colour Temperaures in the Kelvin Scale

A rough guide to some common colour temperatures..

Colour Temperature

Classification

Application
2700K Very Warm White Recommended colour for average household use, similar to standard indoor incandescent bulbs that most people are used to.
3000K Warm White Average colour of halogen lamps. Slightly whiter than incandescent. Often used in white rooms for a clean and modern feel.
3500K Amber White Average coour of fluorescent tubes and CFL lamps.
4000K Cool White More honest and cold light. Ideal for use in areas where clear illumination is paramount, e.g kitchens and offices.
5400K Daylight The lower end of the 'daylight' colour temperatures. Representative of natural light on a bright, sunny day. Very cold and generally not used for household applications unless specifically desired.
6000K Cool Daylight Upper end of the consumer daylight colour temperatures. Very white light, approx. colour of daylight simulating fluorescent tubes and CFL lamps.
6500K Specialist Daylight Slightly harsh blue/white light used in specialist applications such as photography and architechural drawing.

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