Light in relation to Color

Certain types of light higlight some color more than others. For a dramatic effect in your home, select the right light for the colors you wish to emphasize in the room’s decoration.

Highlight lighting depends upon the type of light and color of the material the light bounces at, for example:

1. Pure incandescent lghting enriches dark reds and the brightness of yellow. It has, however, a darkening effect on most other colors.

2. Warmtone fluorescent lamps brighten reds and yellow too. But they add warmth and clearness to most of the other colors.

3. Standard white fluorescent lamps brighten yellow, greens, and tans. However, they gray the blues.

4. Soft, white fluorescent lamps brighten and increase the clearness of the reds, pinks, pinkish-tans and blues. However, they dull the colors of yellow, gray, and green.

5. Daylight fluorescent lamps cool and pale all colors except blue and green. This light helps to emphasize wood finishes.

The examples shown above serve as a guide, when choosing the right light for you, remember that not all lamps are created equal, it all depends on the area to be lighted, the materials you wish to emphasize, and of course the function.