Lighting Technology: What is Color Tuning?

To overcome a lack of natural light in a given space — or to increase the added benefit of natural lighting on human biology — improved lighting now demands a connection to the outdoors. For instance, this can accelerate patient recovery in healthcare applications. Natural lighting can also improve productivity in warehouses, conference rooms and interior offices, where the worker can gain the advantages of natural sunlight despite being indoors (ask one of our lighting sales consultants to implement and activate these new features for your application).

Today’s LED color tuning system allows users to control the color of light anytime after installation. Color tuning affords the ability to attune lighting to individual preferences or specific application needs. For example, the user can set the LED light fixture to follow the sun’s natural east-to-west course throughout the day or choose from standard presets (i.e., dawn, morning, midday, afternoon and evening). Color tuning systems are interactive. Color tuning can harvest daylight and control color temperature throughout the day; changing from daylight to cool white to warm white as the day progresses.

Three types of color-tunable technologies allow users to tune lighting fixtures in a residence or workplace.

Dim-to-warm

• 2700K – 1800K range
• Mimics incandescent lighting or candlelight
• Dim-to-warm products become increasingly warmer in tone, akin to a flame, as light dims. These tend to work best in restaurants, hotel lobbies and guest rooms; also in ballrooms, theaters and homes.

Tunable-white

• 2700K – 5000K range
• Mimics daylight
• Tunable-white products allow for increasing kelvins, which increases blue-toned hues and intensity to simulate daylight. These tend to work best for industrial, medical and commercial office lighting; also in museums and art studios.

Full-color tuning

• RGBW (Red, Green, Blue, White)
• Provides full range of color wheel and tunable-white
• Full-color tuning products, also known as RGB, RGBA, RGBW, or color changing use primary colors to produce most colors across the color spectrum.

Light and light color play an important part in regulating the human body’s biological clock, also know as circadian rhythm.  Light color and intensity can induce alertness in the daytime and rest and relaxation in the evening.

Most color-tuning products come with applications on Apple or Android devices as well as wall control units. It’s important to compare control options, such as a user interface and available settings.

Color heightens and deepens the senses. This may lead to improved working conditions and better retail and hospitality experiences. As lighting changes in color, for example, a patron’s attention can be drawn to an area showcasing a display, goods or services. Color of light may correspond to a company’s brand or highlight a seasonal, cultural or athletic celebration.

In summary, color tuning affords the user an ability to control light color and intensity to adapt, soften and elevate human experiences and foster environments to particular functions on demand.