Natural light is an essential element in people's daily lives. Throughout history, attempts have been made to reproduce natural light in different ways in order to prolong not only nightlife but also to be able to carry out any indoor activity more efficiently.
These lights have evolved from the beginning to reach the white light or cold light: the most comfortable, safe, and comfortable solution in certain spaces.
Through LED luminaires, white light or cold light has been installed in cities, in all kinds of indoor and outdoor spaces to reproduce natural light more faithfully and to facilitate any activity carried out. If you want to understand why it is so useful, here we explain what exactly white light is, how it is shaped and in which specific places it is usually used.
What is white light?
Taking into account that the spectrum of visible light is divided into ranges that our brain interprets as different colors, white or cold light would be composed of the entire visible spectrum, that is, the superposition of all the colors that would be perceived as white, colorless or even a slightly yellow color to our eyes.
In this sense, the white light of a luminaire would be, broadly speaking, all that which is above 4,500 k and has a color rendering index of at least 60%. This indicates that the color temperature is neutral and that with this light the colors of the objects can be perceived in a very similar way to how they are perceived under natural light.
- Ultra warm light: 2200k
- Warm light: 2700k
- Warm light with a whiter tone: 3000k
- Natural or neutral light: 4000k
- Cool or white light: 4500k or higher.
In this regard, the use of white light should be based on the environment. Depending on the clarity of the generally flat surfaces present in the space, the luminosity obtained can be more or less cold.
This explains, for example, that the same luminaire does not give the same result in different spaces if the furniture changes from white to wood-colored
Taking this into account, therefore, the color temperature of the light will have to be more or less warm or cool considering the characteristics of the space, the colors, the distances, the height of the support, etc.
White light has become one of the most widely used because it offers a better performance before the human eyes, a greater contrast of colors and to promote greater visibility, especially in outdoor spaces, to distinguish objects and people easily.
However, it is necessary to take into account all the characteristics of the space in which it is applied to achieve the most comfortable and functional result.
Where is the white light used?
The use of white light is very much determined by the use that is given to each specific space.
Taking into account that it is a light that fills more quickly to bright colors, it would be a recommendable light for all those spaces where the most important thing is the visibility, the clarity, and the fact of being able to perceive correctly the colors.
Therefore, the use of white light has not only been in exteriors such as public roads but also in interior spaces, specifically in areas such as kitchens or bathrooms where having enough light is important.
In these areas, and especially in work areas, it is not only necessary to distinguish objects, but also colors. This is where white light is especially useful, not only to be able to carry out any activity easily but also to do so with the best possible lighting comfort and without straining the eyes.
In short, it is a way of achieving maximum comfort and well-being in spaces where concentration, visibility, and clarity are crucial. This can be applied to any space that complements these characteristics, such as hospitals, work areas like offices or libraries, etc.
At Faro Barcelona we can advise you on the different uses you can give to white light in each of your projects, always aiming to achieve maximum comfort and convenience with attractive and original aesthetic results. Do not hesitate to contact us!
