The acronym Led stands for “Light emitting diode” the most common definition of this technology is a Led is a semiconductor. This light source is created when electricity (voltage/current) is applied in a precise fashion and electroluminescence occurs and this light is with in the spectrum the organs of sight – (your eyes)… can see!
But in my experience what buyers of Led light bulbs really want to know from lighting designers is not: What is a led? But how and where do I use this technology for indoor lighting and outdoor landscape lighting …and ultimately is it really worth it?!
Though the Semantics are a little off in the way typical people phrase the question it is a question that is not quickly answered when doing a Led light bulb search and could be hugely important if you’re looking online or standing in a store aisle ready to buy led lighting.
The quick answer is perhaps offered in this basic chart by Department of Energy and is probably the fastest way to tell what the brightness and color of the led light is going to look like. But for the long answer: see below this chart.
Like picking a color of paint you can now more than ever consider picking how led light sources render colors in your space and even the actual color and brightness of the light to help dramatically change your environment….sound confusing?
It’s not!
I want to quickly go to what maybe is an overused example (to designers anyway) but has become more universally understandable. When you hold an Apple product most sense the weight- the thickness in your fingers and even in the way the images move- there is a harmony there.
There can also be a harmony and feeling that go into lighting choices.
Here is maybe a better example:
Imagine who you think is a funny comedian and if during a very happy comedic scene the lighting suddenly grows darker and shadowy. And the shadows are just showing parts of the comedian and the color is murky. Most would agree that this scene would start to not feel comedic at all –no matter how good the joke! The scene would actually start evoking more of a mad scientist…maybe even a sad feel rather than comedy…
Not convinced…. What about these Movies?
Alien’s -Sigourney weaver- as she curves her way through the electronic controls shadows of the space ship. Think of the color of the lighting.
In Million Dollar baby- how Roger Ebert so astutely pointed out during the car ride home from her mothers where in the front seat scene where the light is caressing the conversation –to me the lighting was another actor in the scene.
Twilight’s – lighting is almost fall feeling, think leaves changing, fire places and Thanksgiving around the corner -the lighting evokes a neediness!
So what does this mean and when you are ready to buy Led light bulbs and how can you get a little closer to creating your own movie set lighting or apple-esque feeling environment.
Basically lighting designer’s (and you can too) typically first design thinking about the objects, colors and function of the space they are lighting. Doing this creates the opportunity for the layering of light. I personally design by breaking down each space according to task and then assess if some fun and even emotion should and could be added. Start by making a list of the spaces in your environment that you’re ready to change to Led lighting.
Think about the food preparation area, you’re changing and get ready space, the home office/study and your reading and relaxation spaces.