Color Has Temperature?

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

But how can color have … temperature?

The term means the warmth or coolness of white light from a source, measured in “kelvin” units, 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 in hotels and restaurants. Many museum galleries are lit at a 3000K “warm neutral.”

Neutral White — 3500-4100K
A balance between warm and cool. Offices and retail stores are often 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 “Blue White” — 6500K +
Even bluer than daylight. Used in industry where maximum visibility is crucial.

There’s lots more about color temperature, 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

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MtM Word of the Day:
Back of house (BOH). Museum areas not accessible to the public. These include offices, storage, locker rooms, and exhibition prep areas needed to keep a museum running smoothly. (Contrast BOH with “front of house” (FOH), which refers to all the areas that the public can access.)