1. What is Correlated Color Temperature?

Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) describes the color appearance of light emitted by a source, measured in Kelvin (K). It indicates whether the light appears warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish) to the human eye.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Wien's Displacement Law:

Where:

• \( CCT \) — Correlated Color Temperature (Kelvin)
• \( \lambda_{peak} \) — Peak wavelength (nanometers)
• \( 2.897 \times 10^6 \) — Wien's displacement constant (nm·K)

Explanation: This law relates the temperature of a black body radiator to the peak wavelength of its emission spectrum, allowing calculation of color temperature from spectral data.

3. Importance of Color Temperature Calculation

Details: Color temperature is crucial in lighting design, photography, display technology, and architectural lighting to create desired visual effects and ensure color accuracy.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the peak wavelength in nanometers (nm). The value must be positive and typically ranges from 380 nm (violet) to 780 nm (red) for visible light.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the typical range of color temperatures?
A: Common ranges include: Warm white (2700-3000K), Cool white (3500-4100K), Daylight (5000-6500K).

Q2: How does color temperature affect perception?
A: Lower temperatures (2000-3000K) appear warm/yellow, higher temperatures (5000-6500K+) appear cool/blue, affecting mood and visual comfort.

Q3: What are common applications?
A: Residential lighting (2700-3000K), office lighting (3500-4100K), retail displays (4000-5000K), photography (5500K for daylight balance).

Q4: Is this calculation accurate for all light sources?
A: Most accurate for black body radiators and incandescent sources. LED and fluorescent sources may have different spectral distributions.

Q5: What is the relationship between wavelength and color?
A: Shorter wavelengths (380-495 nm) appear blue/violet, medium (495-590 nm) green/yellow, longer (590-780 nm) orange/red.