Artificial lighting significantly impacts how we perceive colors, often in ways we don’t realize. Different types of lighting can alter color appearance:
- Fluorescent lights can make colors appear more blue or green
- Incandescent bulbs create a warm yellow cast
- LED lights can vary widely in their color rendering properties
This is why clothing might look different in store lighting versus natural daylight, or why interior designers consider lighting when selecting paint colors. The Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures how accurately a light source reveals colors compared to natural sunlight. For activities requiring accurate color perception, it’s important to use high-CRI lighting or natural daylight.