What’s Color Temperature?

Color temperature is a term you’ll often hear in museum projects. Or should. :)

But how can color have … a temperature?

The term means the warmth or coolness of white light from a source, measured in “kelvins”, or “K”. 

But there’s more than just “warm” or “cool” white. There’s a whole, er, spectrum:

Warm White (aka “Soft White”) — 2200-3000K
Warm, yellowish light, like a candle. Creates a cozy atmosphere. Often seen in hotels and restaurants.

Neutral White — 3500-4100K
A balance between warm and cool. Offices and retail stores use neutral.

Cool White — 4200-5000K
Used in desk lamps, kitchens, and workshops where focused work happens.

Daylight White — 5000-6500K
Equal to natural daylight. Surprisingly blue. Crisp and bright. Used to light daylit galleries at night.

Cool Daylight (aka “Blue White”) — 6500K +
Even bluer than daylight. Used in industry where maximum visibility is crucial.

There’s way more about color temperature in museums to talk about. But that’s a start.

Here’s the thing:
When you hear “color temperature” think “warm or cold”. You won’t be far off.

Warmly (ahem),
Jonathan

P.S. For the brave: an old but good article about art gallery lighting color temperature.