Lighting Essentials for Artwork

Lighting Your Metal Artwork

Lighting is essential for showcasing the true beauty of metal artwork, as it highlights the reflective qualities and intricate textures of each piece.

Different lighting conditions can transform the mood and appearance of the art, creating dynamic effects that enhance its depth and vibrancy.

Whether illuminated by natural light, accentuated with spotlights, or paired with LED backlighting, the right lighting brings out the unique character of the artwork, making it a captivating focal point in any space.

We favor LED bulbs, and prefer a high-kelvin bulb that gives the artwork a bright and contemporary feel, in the 5000k range. Read on to learn more!

Lumens & Watts

The amount of light the bulb gives off is measured in lumens and the power is rated in watts.

  • Incandescent bulbs provide 17 to 20 lumens per watt, but fluorescent bulbs provide as much as 90 lumens per watt.
  • The color produced by bulbs is measured by the color-rendering index (CRI). The scale runs from 1 to 100, with 100 being the equivalent of natural sunlight. Bulbs with CRI of 70 give off the best quality of light.
  • The quality and tone of the color is measured in a temperature reading known as Kelvin. High Kelvin temperatures produce cooler shades of light. See the chart below.
Kelvin Chart for Lighting

Lighting Recommendations

Below are links to lighting and accessories that we either use in the gallery or have been recommended by collectors.

While we do our best to guide our collectors towards the best lighting solutions possible, every situation is different and these might not work for your purposes. If you have any questions about the products below, please contact the manufacturer.

 

CLOUDY BAY 3 Color LED Dimmable 4-Head Track Lighting Kit,3000K/4000K/5000K Selectable 30W 2400lm CRI90,Adjustable Light Head Fixture for Accent Decorative Lighting,White

This is the track lighting we use in our Studio. We have found them to be affordable and reliable. The light fixture can be adjusted to highlight the artwork perfectly.
 

TJOY 25ft Bluetooth LED Strip Lights, Music Sync 5050 LED Light Strip RGB Color Changing LED Lights Strip with Phone Remote, LED Lights for Bedroom Kitchen TV Party TIKTOK DIY (APP+Remote +Mic)

Several customers have recommended these LED light strips for placement behind panel artwork for back-lighting. They offer a unique, colorful pop of color paired with SMART technology.