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LED Effect and Application

 
 

Light plays an important role for the visual environment: only through lighting spaces and structures, objects and materials become visible and an aesthetical effect is added to the ambiance of an area.

In reference to the illumination of an area we differ between three types of lighting:

1. Ambient lighting – light that provides general lighting
2. Accent lighting – light that throws light on a specific point or object
3. Task lighting – light that illuminate an area used for specific tasks

RGB LEDs - It is proven that colors can influence our mood, behavior, likes, dislikes and also our decisions. Colors send signals that are both subtle and complex and people respond to its messages. They can be stimulating, arresting, enticing, seductive, soothing or distracting. Colorful light adds a personal note to each area, able to set the ambiance of a place. Therefore, the perception of an area depends strongly on how it is illuminated: Are soft and decent colors used, or bright and colorful ones? Is a direct or indirect lighting concept applied? Is it as backlighting installation, this means the fixture are not viewable but illuminating the room, or a direct view application, representing an eye-catcher for the area?

Especially for commercial use, colors play an important role: they inform, convince, persuade and sell through their emotive and symbolic characteristics. They communicate image and influence behavior (e.g. retail store), can stimulate and create emotions (e.g. events), or take effect on our mood and how things are perceived (e.g. restaurant, bar). Colorful light can become the focus itself, through elaborate light installation or part of art objects.

White LEDs have undergone vast improvement over the last few years and can cater to a variety oflighting scenarios; from architectural to commercial, hospitality to retail. The ambiance of an envinroment can be set by the color temperatures of the surrounding light and influences moods, perception, shopping behavior and concentration levels.

The color of light strongly influences the ambiance of an area as well as its statement. White light, for instance, creates a clean atmosphere, defining the area’s appearance by tuning the color temperature.

If warmer color temperatures are applied (ranging etween 2700K and 4000K), an area appears more inviting, creating a sense of intimacy and comfort. These tones can be applied well in recreational and hospitality areas such as restaurants and hotels as well as libraries, bookstores, fashion stores and cosmetic boutiques. Skin colors and fabrics appear in warmer and richer saturations when shown under warm color temperature. Similarly, rubies, pearls and gold are well accentuated in these color hues.

If colder color temperature are applied (ranging between 5000K and 7000K), a more clean and clear appearance of an area is created. These color tones are applicable to museums and galleries, jewelry or high-tech electronics stores and other area requiring extremely good visibility. Glass, diamonds, crystals as well as precious metals like silver and platinum reflect beautifully in these color settings.

In addition to the wide range of lighting application for either Cold White or Warm White, Traxon’s Dynamic White adds a flexible lighting system to its range which can alter the atmosphere of any given environment. Dynamic White luminaires emit a color temperature spectrum ranging from Cold White to Warm White in a single fixture. Adjust the atmosphere of locations according to the time of day or desired effect.

Through different lighting scenarios, the usage of professional lighting control systems enable a simple change of an area’s ambiance according to changing needs and intended purpose. The creativity in lighting design of spaces and areas knows therefore no more boundaries and allows individually tailored lighting concepts.
INDOOR

Light can change the appearance of a space or area without physically changing it. Light expands and accentuates rooms, creates links and separates one area from another. The illumination of surfaces such as floors, walls, ceilings or structures directs the view, influences the mood and draws the attention to specific details. However, the perception of the surrounding is decisively influenced by the applied direction of light, the illuminance as well as the light distribution.

Light makes surfaces and objects visible and allows them to become the focus of attention. The accentuation of a ceiling, for example, can alter the general perception of an area. While specific structures such as stuccos and frescos can be spotlighted, the general mood and ambiance of a room can be set by indirect lighting of plane surfaces.

Retail:
Nowadays, the design of retail spaces aims at creating a unique experience for the customer. While interior design and arrangement of the retail space build the basis, the light plays an essential role and covers varied functions: LED displays and general lighting scenarios attract attention, divide the room into different functional areas and support an optimal presentation of the goods according to the shop concept. The created ambiance influences the mood and well-being of the customers and takes a strong effect on his consumer behavior.

Restaurants:
Lighting is an important element in restaurant design since it does not only characterize the place and defines the ambiance, but takes also effect on people’s mood. Lighting can make a room feel more intimate or expansive, friendly or hostile, calm or exciting. However, not only the intensity of lighting plays an important role. Applied light sources, the quality of the lighting as well as the contrast of light levels in different areas contribute to the lighting design of the restaurant.

For instance, a bustling cafeteria needs a bright ambient light for an easy guidance through the room, an elegant restaurant, on the other side, should use more subdued illumination schemes to encourage a comfortable dining. In restaurants direct lighting should be avoided in the dining area, as it distracts the perception. However, indirect lighting creates not only interesting effects but a comfortable atmosphere.

Museums:
Light is an insubstantial medium but it has an enormous influence on both perception of spaces and artwork and can create emotional response of the observer. The principle requirement for museum lighting is to create optimal conditions for viewing objects. Furthermore it is important to pay also attention to the general conditions of the area like visual comfort, suitable light for orientation and movement as well as ease of visual adaption to differing light levels required. Adapted to the characteristic of the art exhibited, light schemes vary. Especially clear white tones are suitable for guarding original colors. A tuning of color temperature can define if the place is perceived bright and puristic (cold temperatures) or warm and inviting (warmer temperatures).

Clubs / Events:
Events significantly depend on the creative application of light and its interaction with people. Light supports the theme and reason of the event and emphasizes its concept. Varied dynamic lighting effects attract attention, amaze the audience and support the emotional ambiance of the event. Creating a certain ambiance has become more easy and modern: where previously candlelight and dimmed lighting scenarios were used, we find nowadays a multitude of colors, scenarios and effects. Contrary to the simple accentuation of spaces, event-lighting aims at matched color-schemes to create intensive and dramatic effects.
OUTDOOR

After a long period of simple functional lighting of outdoor areas, the illumination of buildings, facades and objects experience a growing attention. Light directly influences our visual environment, not only by creating eye-catching architectural and entertaining environments but also by defining desired mood and atmosphere of an area. Among others, outdoor lighting refers to the illumination of architecture, including academic/institutional, corporate, hospitality, monumental structures, residential, retail/entertainment and site/facade lighting projects.

Illuminance, direction of light and light distribution takes a decisive influence on how architecture is perceived. The scope of design possibilities ranges from subtle illuminations of laminar surfaces over detailed accentuated structure to elaborate lighting design concepts (e.g. usage of whole facades for display function). The lighting concept varies from color, brightness and direction of the light and has to be adapted to each type of surface, condition and intent of illumination. Especially for outdoor installation, high-power LEDs are recommended for usage, as their bright light output creates rich wallwashing effects.

Media facades become increasingly popular. Especially in big cities, large-scale display screens are firm landmarks of the skyline. However, lighting applications become more and more creative, replacing conventional LED screens with elaborate installation concepts. Nowadays not only walls and ceiling, but whole buildings are used for display, becoming gigantic screens for communication purposes.
SUITABLE FOR COASTAL ENVIRONMENT

Coastal locations present particular challenges for specifiers, designers or owners when choosing suitable lighting solutions due to the amount of airborne salt and humidity that a coastal property is subjected to, as these act as catalysts to oxidation and rust.

Traxon Nano Liner Allegro AC XB, Monochrome Tube, Media Tube, and Wall Washer Shield AC XB are proven suitable for coastal environments. These weather-proof lighting solutions underwent vigorous assessments including 200 hours salt spray tests and 168 hours high temperature/high humidity tests to verify their resilience to corrosive sea air. These luminaires are suitable for use in coastal environments and have 3 or 5 years functional warranty.