Cold White or Warm White LEDs For Your Display?? - Page 2

riteguytu · 03-18-2023, 12:02 PM

Tried both. Went with the cool white. To me, statue colours seem to 'pop' more under cool white...

Drakul · 03-19-2023, 11:45 AM

I just built some Moducase and I had asked for warm strips but they sent me pure white instead. So once I got the replacement I was able to test both. I haven't tried spotlights.

It will really depend on your room but for me warm white is perfect! I don't find it changes the colors of the statue all that much (really did we complain about this 20+ years ago when most all light were warm anyway??) and to me the pure white is way too bright.
I have my shelves in a 12x12 room and with the lights off it I turn the shelves on in pure white it makes the room too bright and sanitized. I feel like I'm at the hospital or something . The warm white is much more pleasant.

I'll post pics so you can see. (to be fair it's warmer than it shows in the picture, the pics almost look pure white.) The pics are with all other lights off.

**SDguy** · 03-19-2023, 12:23 PM

Here's a pic showing cool white inside my Moducase and Billy, and warm white on top of the Billy, for comparison (I like putting warm white lights on top of my displays, even if there is no statue up there.... really makes the whole cabinet look nicer in the room). FWIW I have dimmers on all my LED's (except Moducase since it's not an option), because, yeah, at 5am when I come downstairs, I don't want those cool whites (or any LEDs for that matter) at 100%

qz33 · 03-19-2023, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

I use both. Generally speaking I have cool white inside displays, while I tend to use warm white outside (ie up facing, tops of shelving units) especially when the lighting contributes significantly to the ambient room light.

Puck/spot lights, of which I have several also, IMO only look good in certain situations (ie specific pieces/locations). They are also more dramatic, which I love. Again, IMO, they are unlikely to work out great if you are installing them first, without any idea of what you will be displaying in those spots.

At the end of the day, warm white gives colors a yellow tint, visually, there is no getting around that. But personally warm white is just more soothing, especially if it's providing a lot of ambient room lighting.

Never knew your display was so classy SD!

**SDguy** · 03-19-2023, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qz33

Never knew your display was so classy SD!

Thanks! Glad to hear my slumming-it facade was successful

But seriously, thank you. I try to make the displays look nice.

mmk123 · 03-19-2023, 01:47 PM

Drakul and SDguy

your displays look fantastic. Very very impressive.

ukshaun · 03-19-2023, 01:56 PM

Cold is.. cold..
Cold is all flashy for YouTuber types.
In person warm white looks more classy .

Lonewolf65 · 03-19-2023, 02:15 PM

I use dimmable, daylight balanced strip lights at around half power, so not sure if you’d class them as warm or cold, more neutral I suppose, then lit from below with colour (mainly on red).

**SDguy** · 03-19-2023, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonewolf65

I use dimmable, daylight balanced strip lights at around half power, so not sure if you?d class them as warm or cold, more neutral I suppose, then lit from below with colour (mainly on red).

% power doesn't change the kelvin rating, but if you know that you can sort of get an idea. Most warm whites are around 3000 kelvin, and cool white being 5000 kelvin or greater. Give or take...

Lonewolf65 · 03-19-2023, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

% power doesn't change the kelvin rating, but if you know that you can sort of get an idea. Most warm whites are around 3000 kelvin, and cool white being 5000 kelvin or greater. Give or take...

Having them at half power just keeps them from being too bright, but they are listed at 6000k, so as you say they would be cool.