This may only apply to those of us in the states who've undergone the government's transition from incandescent to environmentally "safer" mercury vapor lighting. Has anyone noticed the color shift that occurs from the new "twisty" mercury vapor bulbs? I've used Reveal Brand 100 watt incandescent bulbs in my office lamp on my workbench for years. But I'm running low since the government mandated the change to mercury vapor bulbs a couple of years ago. The other day, after replacing my incandescent bulb with an MV, I noticed a distinct color shift from green to brown. I tried this with a couple of other shades, and found there were subtle shade differences in blues and reds too. As an experiment, I put in one of my hoarded incandescent bulbs, and the colors returned to normal. Has anyone else noticed this? If so- how do you account for it in model building-- especially armor building where almost everything is green or brown?
VR, Russ
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Lighting & color shift in paint
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 06:38 AM UTC
TopSmith
Joined: August 09, 2002
KitMaker: 1,742 posts
Armorama: 1,658 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 07:05 AM UTC
I loath these color shifts incandescent, florescent, compact florescent, mercury vapor.... I truly drag my stuff to natural light to paint or weather. To tint the paint to balance the type of light, even if you were successful, would mean in any other lighting condition your paint color would be off.
Littorio
Joined: September 15, 2004
KitMaker: 4,728 posts
Armorama: 504 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 07:19 AM UTC
Russ, see if you can find a 'daylight' lamp, these give off a slightly blue light which is designed to mimic as close as possible natural daylight.
This type of lamp is used by professional cake decorators and in the print and graphic industry. They are available in the energy saving versions but I have noticed that not all are the same, try looking for one with a colour temperature ref of between 5300 (Graphic Pro, colour code 950) - 6500 (Daylight, colour code 865)
HTH
This type of lamp is used by professional cake decorators and in the print and graphic industry. They are available in the energy saving versions but I have noticed that not all are the same, try looking for one with a colour temperature ref of between 5300 (Graphic Pro, colour code 950) - 6500 (Daylight, colour code 865)
HTH
AFVFan
Joined: May 17, 2012
KitMaker: 1,980 posts
Armorama: 1,571 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 07:20 AM UTC
You need to buy daylight balanced CFMs. They take care of the color shift. They're mainly used in photography lighting.
On a side note, I heard CFMs were going to be discontinued soon in favor of the newer LED bulbs due to environmental concerns over their disposal.
On a side note, I heard CFMs were going to be discontinued soon in favor of the newer LED bulbs due to environmental concerns over their disposal.
Vicious
Joined: September 04, 2015
KitMaker: 1,517 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 07:31 AM UTC
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 08:25 AM UTC
Thanks to all of you for the suggestions, I've seen the Ottlight, but for my workbench it's not really large enough. I have some of the daylight CFMs-- I even have the new Reveal daylight CFM bulbs that are supposed to be daylight balanced, but I still see a slight color shift in them too. The Photography lights might work, but the heat might be a problem in the summer (I work at a bench in my garage). If we end up with government mandated LEDs, those likely will cause a color shift too. I don't know of many photo shops left in the Tacoma WA area, but there's one I might try. I'll let you know what I find out. Like Top Smith, I use natural sunlight, but a lot of my building is done after hours, and it's dark for a good part of the year here in the NW. VR, Russ
11Bravo_C2
Joined: May 12, 2015
KitMaker: 475 posts
Armorama: 394 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 11:11 AM UTC
Quoted Text
You need to buy daylight balanced CFMs.
What does CFM stand for? I know CFL.
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 11:40 AM UTC
Yep, good catch--I think we did mean CFL-- Compact Fluorescent Lights. I referred to them as "twisty mercury vapor things" for lack of words in my first post, because they do contain mercury vapor. They are economical in energy usage, which is why the government has mandated them over incandescent bulbs, which have very little color variation. The different brands of CFLs each have different color variations, which can affect the hue perceived by the eye. I never thought this would impact my modeling, but since I frequently mix paints on the bench to get the right hue, I think it can. VR, Russ
AFVFan
Joined: May 17, 2012
KitMaker: 1,980 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 01:15 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextYou need to buy daylight balanced CFMs.
What does CFM stand for? I know CFL.
Oops! Too many years working as a mechanic around air tools and compressors showing through (cfm - cubic feet/minute)
Of course, CFL is the proper one. The photography CFLs don't throw a lot of heat like standard high wattage bulbs.
deichevster
Joined: January 08, 2015
KitMaker: 21 posts
Armorama: 20 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 01:52 PM UTC
Some years ago the EU also banned reasonably powerful incandescent light bulbs, but over here you can still buy them, they're just marked "Not for home use". Half my house is lit with what were labeled "Traffic light bulbs" 
I'm not aware of the situation in the US, but I'd personally go for LEDs if incandescent bulbs were not available - I'm yet to see a CFL last any longer than an incandescent, and the environmental benefit seems to fly out the window when you consider the added technological waste. Anyhow, on the topic of color:
http://www.planetbulb.com/pages/What-is-Kelvin-Color-Temperature%3F.html
As far as I've seen, all CFL bulbs are marked with their Kelvins, so you should be able to get daylight or at least white at any store.
I'm not aware of the situation in the US, but I'd personally go for LEDs if incandescent bulbs were not available - I'm yet to see a CFL last any longer than an incandescent, and the environmental benefit seems to fly out the window when you consider the added technological waste. Anyhow, on the topic of color: http://www.planetbulb.com/pages/What-is-Kelvin-Color-Temperature%3F.html
As far as I've seen, all CFL bulbs are marked with their Kelvins, so you should be able to get daylight or at least white at any store.
11Bravo_C2
Joined: May 12, 2015
KitMaker: 475 posts
Armorama: 394 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2016 - 08:33 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Yep, good catch--I think we did mean CFL-- Compact Fluorescent Lights. I referred to them as "twisty mercury vapor things" for lack of words in my first post, because they do contain mercury vapor. They are economical in energy usage, which is why the government has mandated them over incandescent bulbs, which have very little color variation. The different brands of CFLs each have different color variations, which can affect the hue perceived by the eye. I never thought this would impact my modeling, but since I frequently mix paints on the bench to get the right hue, I think it can. VR, Russ
Quoted Text
Oops! Too many years working as a mechanic around air tools and compressors showing through (cfm - cubic feet/minute)
Of course, CFL is the proper one. The photography CFLs don't throw a lot of heat like standard high wattage bulbs.
Ha ha. I spent half-hour on acronym finder trying to find something that could tie CFM to lighting.
Thanks for clarifying!!
Headhunter506
Joined: December 01, 2007
KitMaker: 1,575 posts
Armorama: 1,509 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2016 - 09:13 PM UTC
If you're using a tensor-style desk lamp with a screw-in light socket, get a 15W 5000K all-spectrum CFL light bulb. I just replace the one in my Vision Max magnifier lamp. It lasted nine years to the day I originally bought it.
gcdavidson
Joined: August 05, 2003
KitMaker: 1,698 posts
Armorama: 1,563 posts
Posted: Friday, February 19, 2016 - 10:03 AM UTC
MTCW..if you are going to display your model in a cabinet with CFL lights, then mix your paints under CFL lighting so the colour is compensated.
Painting models with natural light might get the truest colour, but won't it look wonky when you display them indoors or at a contest table?
Painting models with natural light might get the truest colour, but won't it look wonky when you display them indoors or at a contest table?
IPLawyer
Joined: March 18, 2015
KitMaker: 71 posts
Armorama: 63 posts
Posted: Friday, February 19, 2016 - 10:41 AM UTC
I've been using a Cree 100W equivalent Daylight LED bulb in a torchiere style floor lamp for my workspace and it's been great. I also the ability to receive natural light in my workspace during the day and the light from the Daylight LED bulb at least superficially looks pretty close in color value to the natural light I receive.
Although I just got back into modelling last year, I had been using the my work table to play board wargames and it is amazing how much brighter and more true all of the colors look in comparison to when my work table area was lit by incandescents or CFLs.
The Daylight bulb also makes it easier to find small parts in my carpet at night . . . .
I now wish I hadn't installed the LED lights that try to more closely imitate an incandescent bulb elsewhere in my home, because I miss the more true colors of the Daylight bulg.
Although I just got back into modelling last year, I had been using the my work table to play board wargames and it is amazing how much brighter and more true all of the colors look in comparison to when my work table area was lit by incandescents or CFLs.
The Daylight bulb also makes it easier to find small parts in my carpet at night . . . .
I now wish I hadn't installed the LED lights that try to more closely imitate an incandescent bulb elsewhere in my home, because I miss the more true colors of the Daylight bulg.
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