Colour Temperature Guide, Colour Temp Range Effect on Colour Typical Applications (BELOW 3500K) Incandescent look Enhances red and orange Adds yellow tint to whites and greens Retail Stores Supermarkets Restaurants Specialty Shops Executive offices Residential MIDRANGE (3500-3900K) Enhances warmer colours yet moves away from the incandescent look towards a slightly cooler impression Retail Stores Supermarkets Specialty Shops Showrooms Offices COOL (4000-5000K) Provides slightly warmer look than natural daylight Offices Schools Hospitals Manufacturing Warehouses Commercial Kitchens Full Spectrum & Daylight (5500K+) Mimics daylight allowing for natural consistency of all colours. Enhances whites, greens, and blues Offices Schools Hospitals Manufacturing Warehouses Paint Shops Print Shops Floral Shops Jewellery Shops Once the lamp type and the "right" colour temperature have been chosen, it is always recommended to use the highest CRI lamp available in that family. Electricity contributes the highest percentage of expense associated with lighting and in order to make the best use of it, use the highest quality light source available.

Light source Colour Temperature Description North sky-clear day 10,000K+ extremely cool Sky-cloudy 6,750K very cool Sunlight at noon 5,400K cool Fluorescent - cool white 4,300K cool Fluorescent - warme white 3,000K warm Incandescent 2,900K warm High Pressure Sodium 2,100K very warm Candle flame 1,800K extremely warm