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While lighting is important in any building, museum lighting is especially critical. It can affect the way that your guests interact with the space, which can influence their experience. Taking the time to consider museum lighting design will benefit employees and visitors alike.
Below, we will explore the benefits of museum art lighting as well as touch on the different types of museum lighting.
Why Do You Need Good Lighting in a Museum?
The light in your museum can dictate the experience of your visitors from the moment they walk into the gallery. Using lighting and shade, you can guide them through the museum or art gallery in a subtle way while ensuring they are engaging with the art in a way the artist intended.
Perhaps, more importantly, is the conservation of the art or artifacts themselves. Some materials are delicate enough that light is enough to damage it or at the very least, compromise it. LED lights are thought to be the safest illumination type for light-sensitive pieces. This is due to their lessened output of heat and limited UV radiation.
Since well-designed lighting can make such a massive impact on your museum, it is important to take it into serious consideration when designing and arranging your museum.
Guidance on Lighting Beam Angles for Museum Lighting
Of the many things to consider when it comes to LED lighting, beam angles are among the most important. Museum track lighting is lighting that is fixed to a bar and shines illumination at a certain area. This is better accomplished by noting the beam angle of the light and using it to shine dedicated lighting where you want it to go.
Beam angles indicate the narrowness or width of a light. With narrow lighting, you get lighting with a higher intensity over a smaller area of space. Wider beam angles are less intense and instead cover a larger area. Each light has its place in a museum or art gallery.
- NARROW BEAM ANGLES – Using narrow spotlights with a narrow beam angle is good for accenting smaller items or managing long distances between the fixture and the object being highlighted. To get a similar appearance in a larger gallery setting, a spotlight with an angle between 10 to 20 degrees or even a flood light with a beam angle of 25 to 35 degrees, is perfect.
- WIDE BEAM ANGLES – Wider beam angles are better suited for use in larger spaces and displaying large works of art. Instead of relying on multiple lights with narrow beam angles and potentially leaving shadows between them, you can use floodlights to cover the entire art piece and highlight it beautifully. Lights with a beam angle of 60 degrees or above are commonly used to accomplish this.
Why Use LED Lighting in a Museum
There are a few reasons why LED light is preferred to traditional bulbs when it comes to everything from museum display case lighting to art gallery track lighting. Below are a few of the most notable:
- CONSERVATION – As mentioned earlier, LED museum lighting is better for preserving works of art due to its limited infrared rays and lack of UV light.
- ENERGY EFFICIENT – LED lights use almost all of their energy to be transformed into light, whereas traditional bulbs generate most of their energy as heat. With better use of energy, not only are LED lights better for the environment, but they can also save you money on your energy bills.
- LONGER LIFESPAN – Incandescent or halogen bulbs tend to only run for 1,000 hours or so before burning out. On the other hand, LED bulbs can run for a minimum of 20,000 hours before needing to be changed.
- BETTER COLOUR RENDERING – LED lights have a superior colour rendering index that allows gallery curators to choose the warmth or coolness of the lights in their space. With greater control of the environment, mood and illumination, it is easier to create the perfect guest experience.
What Is the Best LED CCT for Museum Lights?
CCT stands for Colour Correlated Temperature, which is another way to talk about the colour temperature of a light. This indicates whether a light is warm or cool and by how much, measured in degrees Kelvin. Colour temperature exists on a scale between 1,000 and 10,000, with higher numbers indicating cooler temperatures and lower numbers indicating warmer temperatures.
Different locations have different needs, and museum LED lighting is no different. When it comes to museum display lighting and museum cabinet lighting alike, it is generally recommended that you stay within the range of 2000k to 3000k. This gives clear, bright light that is warm enough to be comfortable on the eyes while complementing the colour palette of what is being displayed.
How Bright Should Museum Lighting Fixtures Be?
Whether your LED track lights or museum case lighting is warm or cool ultimately comes down to preference and the kind of mood you are hoping to create. Those who want a moodier and more atmospheric feel in their gallery can look at lights with a lower lumen count, which will make the space dimmer. Lights around 250-650 lumens are usually good for this.
On the other hand, some curators like to display their works in vibrant, crisp lighting without a shadow to be seen. In cases such as this, brighter lights of around 1,000 lumens are preferred.
Museums tend to default to dim light due to fear of damaging artifacts, but since LED lights are good at conserving art, this isn’t something you have to concern yourself with. Therefore, you are given greater freedom of choice when it comes to the atmosphere of the space.
Ideas on Lighting to Use for Illuminating a Museum
Below are some tips for using lighting in your museum or gallery:
- BEAM ANGLE MATTERS – As mentioned, beam angles are important with this type of lighting. Generally, it is agreed that lighting art with a beam angle of 30 degrees will yield the best results. This is because it not only stops the viewer from seeing the reflection of the light on the art, but it can avoid casting any shadows on those standing before it.
- PAY ATTENTION TO HEIGHT – If you want to maintain a 30-degree beam angle in different environments, you will have to position them according to ceiling height. Hang the art or position the artifacts in a way that sets the centre of the light at eye level. If you need to hang the exhibit more than five or six inches above the floor, you may need to install the fixture closer to the wall to get similar results.
- EMPLOY VARIOUS LIGHTS – Ceiling track lights, LED track lighting on the walls and cabinet lighting are among the most important elements in a museum design scheme. One of the most common types of lighting in museums is track lighting. This type of lighting features heads that sit on a track and can usually be pivoted to shine in certain directions. Paired with the proper beam angle, you can create a beautifully displayed work of art every time.
Picture lights or decorative fixtures that sit on the frame of an art piece can bring direct light onto the piece while drawing attention to it from a distance. Wall washing lights are another good choice, allowing you to shine a larger amount of illumination over the entire wall instead of just in one place.
- ALWAYS OPT FOR LED LIGHTS – The benefits of LED lights, as mentioned above, speak for themselves.
- CHOOSE COOL LIGHTING WHEN POSSIBLE – Having brighter, crisper lighting can make your museum feel modern and easy to navigate. While moody, dark exhibits have their place, creating an open-feeling art gallery with ample light can contribute to the atmosphere and guest experience in a brand new way.
Museum LED Lighting Fixtures Ideas
If you want subtle fixtures as elegant as the displays themselves, the LSP195 16 Watt Black and Gold LED Track Light is a fine choice. The cylindrical light head is black in colour with gold trim along the edge, creating a striking look. The fixture outputs 1400 lumens of your choice of cool or white LED light and shines at a 20-degree beam angle. Thanks to the honeycomb filter, there is no glare to bother your visitors’ eyes.
Another dramatic choice for modern gallery lighting is the LSP190 20 Watt LED Track Light Fitting. The cylindrical light features a textured exterior with ridges that give it an industrial modern look. The aluminium light comes in your choice of silver, white or black finishes to suit the aesthetic of the museum. It outputs 1600 lumens of either cool or warm light that shines at a 20-degree beam angle.
The LSP176 30 Watt LED Track Light Fitting is a sleek, smooth track light with a cylindrical shape. Due to its subtle nature, it won’t detract from the object it is highlighting. The light has a 23-degree beam angle that emits 2400 lumens of warm or cool light in the direction of your choice.
Ideal for a museum display case, the LDC367 3 Watt Black Triple Recessed Cabinet Display Spotlights sits up out of the way, attached to the “ceiling” of the case. It shines a total of 210 lumens from three different light heads, outputting 6000k cool white light at a 30-degree beam angle. The fixture recesses into the case, ensuring it does not obstruct any views.
Highlight items on the shelves of a display case with the LSD017 2 Watt Black Twin LED Cabinet Display Spot Lights. The two spotlights are mounted on a post measuring 183 millimeters tall and shine a total of 140 lumens of 6000k cool white light onto the items on display. The lights shine at a 30-degree beam angle to give you better control over where the illumination is pointed.
