Lighting For Painting

[lpa53]

After a long hiatus, I'm considering getting back to painting miniatures, and since I now have a smaller space to work in that previously, I'm looking for a smaller light for the space (I used to a large swing-arm table lamp with incandescent bulbs). Does anyone have recommendation for a small lamp and for the best type of bulb? Are LED lights such as an OttLite, usable or is the light spread to small?

 

[Ferris]

I use two IKEA swing arm lamps, one left, one right, with their LED bulbs, plus standard downlight room lighting and I'm happy with that. Previously I used room light plus one large suspended double tube light, which was just as fine.
Most important in my opinion is to have a LOT of light, that it is not too coloured (not yellowish) and that it doesn't scorch you, like incandescent bulbs do. Other than that, my view is that it doesn't matter so much. I would not spend a lot of money on those extra special painting lamps.

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Nap]

Hi there ,

Adrian is right as your getting back to painting no need to spend too much , agree about a light either side , I personally use Daylight lamps ..bit expensive but I live at my bench according to my wife'!!

There are lots of lights out there but it's what YOU are happy with in my opinion .

Enjoy the journey and welcome to PF

Nap

 

[lpa53]

Thanks for the advice. I just moved to a new house (in the North Carolina mountains) and am still setting up my work space. I don't have a lot of space and am thinking of using an old roll-top desk. That being the case, there's not a lot of room for the large swing-arm units I used to use. I've seen some small versions at Home Depot and may try one or two of those. I also have two small halogen lamps that would fit in the desk. Is halogen light too warm in color for painting? I do know it's hot but then they could double as a baking oven if I roll the top down!

I also discovered that my old old oils need to be replaced so that's now on my list, too, and it's probably where I'd be better off putting my funds.

 

[Alex]

I disagree with the LED recommendations. Most LEDs do not offer a good color reproduction and once outside, you will see that the colors are not the same. Go with regular incandescent or fluorescent with very high CRI (almost 100%) and 5000K temperature.
You need plenty of it just over and in front of your head. No need for a desk lamp if you have plenty of ceiling lighting.

 

[lpa53]

I disagree with the LED recommendations. Most LEDs do not offer a good color reproduction and once outside, you will see that the colors are not the same. Go with regular incandescent or fluorescent with very high CRI (almost 100%) and 5000K temperature.
You need plenty of it just over and in front of your head. No need for a desk lamp if you have plenty of ceiling lighting.

I've found other posts by artists that agree with what you've said here. Unfortunately it seems that most bulb packages do not give the CRI number. I may have to order on line to know I'm getting bulbs with the desired spec.

Are temperatures above 5000 not good for miniature painting?\

 

[Alex]

Here is the best fluorescent on the planet with a CRI of 98 !
http://download.p4c.philips.com/lfb/f/fp-927942009520/fp-927942009520_pss_en_ca_001.pdf
Daylight color temperature at noon is around 5000-5500K
These bulbs are not cheap but should last years and years of painting.. at least a decade ! And are made in Europe. Netherlands if I remember well.

 

[lpa53]

Here is the best fluorescent on the planet with a CRI of 98 !
http://download.p4c.philips.com/lfb/f/fp-927942009520/fp-927942009520_pss_en_ca_001.pdf
Daylight color temperature at noon is around 5000-5500K
These bulbs are not cheap but should last years and years of painting.. at least a decade ! And are made in Europe. Netherlands if I remember well.

Unfortunately my new work area won't accommodate tube fluorescent bulbs.

 

[lpa53]

I found this fluorescent bulb that might work in a desk lamp in my new work area:

NaturesSunlite™ Compact Fluorescent Flat Quad, 27 Watt (Item # FML2755), 5500K Full Spectrum Supreme, 96 CRI.

 

[Alex]

I think you got a winner here

 

[lpa53]

I think you got a winner here

Thanks. Hope so. It would go in a desk lamp like this one. That one comes with a 6500K bulb of unspecified CRI, but I'd replace it. I can use the original bulb in the similar floor lamp we have.