Ambient colours

White light that is reflected by a coloured surface takes on the colour of the surface and becomes the predominant colour of light for the whole room. When lighting a coloured wall with coloured light, this effect can be increased, reversed or inverted.

The colour of light in a room is influenced by the decoration of the room. In comparison to diffuse light, direct light increases the effect of the light when illuminating a coloured surface. The effect of a body colour can be intensified by using coloured light of a similar colour. Strong colour contrasts appear brighter for the same illuminance than a weaker colour contrast. Lesser colour contrasts can be perceived better under brighter lighting. Within closed rooms the effect is hardly perceptible due to the phenomenon of colour constancy.

MAM asset 2592845
Ausstellung mit roter Wandfarbe, die die Körperfarbe der Kunstwerke beeinflusst.
Farbiges Akzentlicht für Ausstellungen und Verkaufsräume, beeinflusst die Raumwirkung.
Blaue Wandgestaltung mit der Ziffer 3 im Ausstellungsraum, beeinflusst durch Umgebungsfarben.
Architektonischer Raum mit roter Beleuchtung, demonstriert Farbmischung.

In practice, when illuminating coloured surfaces, it is recommended that lighting tests or calculations be carried out.

Coloured accent lighting is used for

  • exhibitions
  • trade-fair stands
  • sales areas

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Further topics on lighting design