A black body is colorless. When increasing heat is applied to such a body, it eventually develops a deep red glow, then cherry red, next orange, and finally bluewhite.
The color of the radiated light is thus related to the temperature of the heated body. This phenomenon is the basis for a temperature scale used for the comparison of the color of light from different sources. For example, the light from an incandescent lamp, which tends to be yellowish, may be designated 2500 Kelvin (K), whereas a cool white fluorescent lamp may be designated 4500 K.
Light used for general illumination is mainly white, but white light is a combination of colors and some colors are more predominant than others in light emitted from light sources commonly used. When light other than white is desired, it may be obtained by selection of a light source rich in the desired hue or through use of a filter that produces that hue by absorbing other colors.
Color rendering is the degree to which a light source affects the apparent color of objects. Color rendering index is a measure of this degree relative to the perceived color of the same objects when illuminated by a reference source for specified conditions. The index actually is a measure of how closely light approximates daylight of the same color temperature. The higher the index, the better is the color rendering. The index for commonly used light sources ranges from about 20 to 99.
Generally, the color rendering of light should be selected to enhance color identification of an object or surface. This is especially important in cases where color coding is used for safety purposes or to facilitate execution of a task. Color enhancement is also important for stimulating human responses; for example in a restaurant, warm-colored light would make food served appear more appetizing, whereas cool-colored light would have the opposite effect.
Sources producing white light are generally used. Because of the spectral energy distribution of the light, however, some colors predominate in the illumination. For example, for daylight, north light is bluish, whereas direct sunlight at midday is yellow-white; and light from an incandescent lamp is high in red, orange, and yellow. The color composition of the light may be correlated with a color temperature.
For a specific purpose, a source with the appropriate color characteristics should be chosen. Lamp manufacturers provide information on the color temperature and color rendering index of their products.
Colored light, produced by colored light sources or by filtering of white light, is sometimes used for decorative purposes. Colored light also may be used to affect human moods or for other psychological purposes, as indicated in Art. 15.10.8.
Care must be taken in such applications to avoid objectionable reactions to the colored light; for example, when it causes unpleasant changes in the appearance of human skin or other familiar objects.
Perceived color of objects also is affected by the level of illumination (Art. 15.10.8). When brilliant color rendition is desired and high-intensity lighting is to be used, the color saturation of the objects should be high; that is, colors should be vivid. Also, a source that would enhance the colors of the objects should be chosen.
See Art. 15.20, Bibliography.
