Cold White or Warm White LEDs For Your Display??

[pdenham]

Just wondering, for the people using lighting. have you tried both and hit on a preference- or did you buy one or the other without thinking about it?

Also, are you using spotlights or strips?

[jeremydmc]

I use cold white strip lights on my open shelving units. In my Ikea display cases I use cold white spotlights, with exception to the case I have my JND Harley in. In that one I use warm spotlights. I think personally the warmer light looks better with silicone.

I do have one other case with warm white in it but that is just because I bought the wrong ones by mistake and didn't realize it until I had them mounted. I have never gotten around to replacing them since I do not notice it much.

[NorthernLadMSP]

I have both, but I prefer the white over the warm/yellow.

[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.

[SONICobra]

i much prefer warm, cool usually comes across too artificial to me like a supermarket

i mainly use light bars but in situations where i didnt have something to mount them to and be hidden i used tiny spot lights. in both cases theyre all adjustable

[generalszabo]

At the moment I have warm led strips which illuminate the area really well, but perhaps too well. I also don't like how they look yellow on camera

I am thinking of getting a new display and will go with cool spotlights, as I think statues look best with one or two light sources, as the shadows look better and more natural

There are videos on YouTube which show the difference between spots and leds, and generally loads of small hot toys look best with leds, whilst statues look better with spots

[Asgard]

I prefer warm light.
But I usually use spots that can display more colors. For example, Gallevarbe is illuminated by a beautiful turquoise.

[pdenham]

I appreciate all the responses so far.

Originally Posted by jeremydmc

I use cold white strip lights on my open shelving units. In my Ikea display cases I use cold white spotlights, with exception to the case I have my JND Harley in. In that one I use warm spotlights. I think personally the warmer light looks better with silicone.

Right before I started this thread, I ordered some warm spots off Amazon.
Then had second thoughts and figured I'd get some feedback first.
I'm thinking now the big problem, more so than color temp, is there won't be enough space for them to avoid hot spotting.

And yeah, they were intended specifically for the silicone pieces I have, or have coming.

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...

Very classy looking set up! Good point about the spillover as ambient light, too. That was something that was also on my mind when I made the choice. I was wondering if I was over-thinking it.

[SDguy]

Originally Posted by pdenham

I appreciate all the responses so far.



Right before I started this thread, I ordered some warm spots off Amazon.
Then had second thoughts and figured I'd get some feedback first.
I'm thinking now the big problem, more so than color temp, is there won't be enough space for them to avoid hot spotting.



Very classy looking set up! Good point about the spillover as ambient light, too. That was something that was also on my mind when I made the choice. I was wondering if I was over-thinking it.

That first point is definitely a consideration. I wish I had some sort of arm extenders on some of my upward facing spot lights on my Detolfs to better light the pieces on top, and not get those hot spots you mention.

Thanks. Can never over think display/lighting options NOT thinking about them at all is the common tragedy for most collectors

[mmk123]

my statues are displayed on shelves that my friend customer made so there is no lighting on them. However, in my apt I do use LED bulbs in Daylight. It does not have that yellow glow that warm lighting does but it also does not have bright, garish glow that some cool lighting does.