Houston Outdoor Lighting, Indoor Art Lights, Landscape Lighting Designs, Home Automation Blog

Friday, July 18, 2008

Lighting For Paintings

Fine paintings are used as ornate decorations in custom homes and in offices. This is not surprising when you stop to realize has been with in one form or fashion for at least 40,000 years. Light in a paintings itself contributes to the tone of the work by creating a sense of depth through the interplay of light and shadows. Lighting for paintings should not cast shadows, however, but rather must discover and magnify the luminosity of the scene and animate the action between objects and characters. This method of lighting paintings is as old as Lascaux, where firelight was used to make the seemingly crude stick figures of hunters and animals suddenly spring to life with the illusion of three dimensional substance and physical movement.

To create this sense of vivid life and realism, lighting for paintings must be sourced from special types of fixtures and controlled in such a manner that enhances the work without damaging the piece or limiting the aesthetic.

Only filtered light can be used for safely lighting paintings.
Oils and canvases will degrade if exposed to UV light. Infrared light is not as damaging as ultraviolet light, but it nevertheless produces large quantities of heat that will dry out paint and crack the canvas. Because sunlight consists of both UV and IR radiation, it must never be used to light paintings, because it will quickly destroy them in a short period of time. Sunlight is much too bright to light a painting because it overpowers the combination of shadows and light in the painting and flattens the perspective of the image.

It is therefore necessary to use a filtered artificial light source that removes UV and IR rays from the light beam.

Use a light source with a high color rendering index (CRI).
Even though artificial light is much safer than sunlight to use as lighting for paintings, sunlight’s ability to render color is unmatched because sunlight is a perfect blend of all natural colors of the spectrum. Nevertheless, it is simply out of the question as a source of art lighting for paintings, so you have to use a close approximation to sunlight to bring out the color in your artwork.

To date, the best light of this type is a halogen bulb. These bulbs emit an intense, white light that renders color at levels near that of sunlight. Halogen bulbs are found in recessed ceiling fixtures that shine light down on artwork. They are also used in art lighting projectors, which also install in the ceiling.

When utilized for artwork lighting, recessed lights must be filtered. All art lighting projectors, because they are intended only for art lighting, are manufactured with filters in them.

Lighting for paintings must be adjustable and dimmable.
Paintings must be illuminated from the correct angle of incidence to avoid spill light shining past the boundaries of the frame and to avoid glare than can reflect off the canvas back into the eye. Picture lights are hard to adjust like this and are generally not recommended for this reason. Also, they can burn very hot at times and are extremely difficult to filter, making them unsafe as well.

Recessed lights and projectors are much better sources of illumination because they allow the decorator to change the direction of the light at will. Some recessed fixtures can be adjusted in this manner more easily than others, so it is important to make certain before ordering them if the models being ordered were made specifically for wall art lighting and fine art paintings.

Projectors offer an even greater range of adjustment because they hang suspended from the ceiling and can be positioned anywhere along a three-dimensional access. Some projectors are easier to adjust than others. It is best to talk to an art lighting specialist who can recommend the very best model suited to a particular home, office, or museum application.

Call a professional firm to have your art lights installed.
Lighting simple prints or photographs is something anyone can do with retail picture lights. Lighting a painting is something completely different. It takes commercial grade recessed lighting fixtures and bulbs that can only be obtained by a design firm from the manufacture. It also takes knowledge of art and design to truly create a masterpiece of lighting.

Illuminations Lighting Design has mastered these mini-disciplines and has been lighting art in Houston, Beaumont, Austin, and San Antonio areas for many, many years. Our staff holds licenses in electrical service work and understands the complexity of fine art lighting, home automation and interior design.

Illuminations Lighting Design is a full service design build firm specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting, electrical service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters, emergency generators, surge protection systems, phone systems and lighting control systems.

Call toll free 800-863-1184 for a complimentary lighting consultation.

Labels: Beaumont Fine Art Lighting, Contour Projector, Fine Art Lighting Equipment, Lighting For Paintings, Painting Lights, Picture Lighting Solutions

Monday, October 02, 2006

Fine art lighting using a framing projector to control the light spill.

Illuminations Lighting Deign, a Houston based lighting contractor is known around the Country as "The Go To" company for fine art lighting consultation, design and installation.

Illuminations Lighting Design has consulted and lighted some of the world's most prestigious public and private art collections including works from renowned artists such as Chagall, Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Rockwell, Salvador Dali and Rembrandt. Regardless of the artist, you can trust the professionals at Illuminations Lighting Design to showcase your fine art in the best possible light, on a budget you can afford.

Illumination's understands light and it's destructive characteristics including how to harness and control infrared and ultraviolet radiation to prevent deterioration and fading of priceless art. Our knowledge of art lighting fixtures is extensive with years of hands on experience in everything from installing low voltage accent lights to complex Wendel optical projectors and Phantom Contour Projectors.

Since 1981, Illuminations has been lighting fine art, creating lighting designs, installing landscape lighting, home automation and doing custom electrical work. If you are interested in learning more about our specialty lighting, please call us toll free at 800-863-1184 or visit us online at www.illuminationslighting.com.

Labels: Fine art lighting, Optical Wendel Projectors, Picture Lighting Solutions, Wendel Art Lights

Friday, October 28, 2005

Phantom Fine Art Lighting Projectors & Phantom Lighting Strips From Illuminations Lighting Design.

Phantom Lighting is the brainchild of Illuminations Lighting Design, a Houston based lighting design build firm over 20 years ago. The company holds several patents for Phantom Lighting fixtures and is continuously working to add new products as needs develop and technologies evolve. The Phantom Lighting concept was simple at first and quickly grew into one of the most effective accent lighting fixture selections on the market today for fine art illumination and display lighting. The Phantom Lighting System is comprised of two main product categories: Phantom Contour Projector and Phantom Lighting Strips.

Phantom Lighting Strips
Phantom low voltage lighting strips were introduced in the early 80's to illuminate bookcases, breakfronts, armoires, shelves and display cases. The early lighting strips were hand fabricated on site by skilled craftsmen and perfectly fitted inside furniture, antiques and shelving for display applications. Today, we follow that same model and carefully fabricate each order to insure that the light was built for the cabinet and not just modified to fit. The adjustable shelf concept, our legendary patented process allows for completely adjustable shelves, without the need for tools or unsightly exposed wiring. Phantom lighting strips are simple by design, but highly flexible due to various trim configurations which allow for hiding the lamps and providing glare free continuous illuminations. Models are available for horizontal mounting, vertical mounting, indirect mounting and radius applications. With a variety of incandescent and xenon lamps in both 12 and 24 volts, Phantom Lighting Systems is a leader in linear display and strip lighting. See our article in Aprill issue of LD+A Magazine.

Phantom Contour Projectors
Phantom Contour Projectors, another product from the designers at Illuminations, are high performance lighting instruments created specifically for illuminating fine art. They utilize precision lenses, halogen lamps and a patented masking technique to contour focused light onto the art or sculpture with spectacular results. In fact, you can illuminate one or more paintings individually from one source regardless of the shape of the art. For years the Wendel projector was the standard for fine art lighting, but not anymore. Developments in lamp technology, optics and energy savings requirements have been incorporated into the Phantom Contour Projector. This equates to a smaller, more efficient, cooling running, cost effective optical framing projector. The Phantom Contour Projector has now become the projector of choice by lighting and design professionals. Architects, engineers, lighting designers and discriminating clients all agree that the Phantom Contour Projector looks better, is easier to install and requires no formal training to acheive world class results.

Imagine a space where fine art appears to come alive, where paintings appear to leap off the walls, where pictures appear to be illuminated from within. Imagine a museum where sculptures seem to float, magically suspended and enlivened by some unseen source of light. Imagine canvases and statues transformed by lighting that breathes life into each image. Now imagine actually creating such a space in your home, office, gallery or museum. That's what Phantom Lighting is all about!

To learn more about Phantom Lighting contact us to request a catalog or call toll free at 800-863-1184. You can also visit us online at one of the following web address: www.phantomlighting.com

Come see what Phantom Lighting is all about at Light Fair 2006. Light Fair International is the world's largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference. The trade show and conference is being held May 30th through June 1st at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Phantom Lighting booth will be located in the center of the hall as Booth 2742. Click here to see a floor plan of the convention center illustrating our location.

Labels: Contour Projector, Fine Art Lighting Consultants, Fine Art Lighting Equipment, Interior Accent Lighting, Picture Lighting Solutions, Wendel Projector

Friday, September 16, 2005

Disney selects Phantom Lighting for Parrot Cay restaurant on Disney Magic cruise ship.

When the imagineers at Disney wanted a special lighting projector to enhance the interior of the Parrot Cay restaurant, on the cruise ship Disney Magic, they specified Phantom Lighting a creation of Illuminations Lighting Design. What the Disney designers envisioned was a small recessed optical framing projector that would project patterns of light onto the walls and draperies to create a magical effect. They needed a framing projector that would project focused light, fit into a tight space, produce very little heat, operate at 220 volts and ship quickly. In order to meet Disney's specific resort lighting needs, the technicians at Phantom Lighting fabricated a custom holder that would accept a stainless steel pattern filter, or "gobo," which is typically used in theatrical lighting.

In addition, the Disney designers specified and are using Phantom Strip Lights in several of the many display cases located in a boutique on the ship. The small linear light source with remote transformers was perfect for the application.

In addition to creating a dazzling theatrical environment for the Disney company, the Phantom Contour Projector, with its control and precision, is the perfect compliment to your fine art collection. It truly brings objects of art to life - colors become more vivid and rich, forms more lustrous and distinct. The splendor of your art will dazzle you when you add the artistic illumination provided by the Phantom Contour Projector to creatively affect the palette of mood, whether bright and illustrious or subtle and warm.

This form of art lighting intensifies the magnificence of your art with a contoured light beam that flawlessly embraces the distinct outline of your individual pieces of art. Through the use of its standard or custom designed templates and an unbroken line of direct lighting, the Phantom Contour Projector provides luminescence for single, multiple and irregularly shaped art objects. Three different art lighting applications - one projector. With cutting-edge technology, this unseen projector can be used as far as 30 feet away to as close as just a few feet. The richness of your art will illuminate your environment with beauty and splendor. Additionally, Phantom offers five different housings to meet the needs of any project, from a remodel to a top access to surface mount.

Because needs are diverse, the Contour Projector provides options to fit almost any situation--whether you're one of the world's leading entertainment companies or simply looking to beautify your own home. For more information regarding Phantom Lighting System, please visit or call toll free 800-863-1184 to speak with Tom Kretzschmar.

Labels: Custom Art Lights, Display Lighting Fixtures, Fine art lighting, Picture Lighting Solutions, Resort Lighting Design

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Illuminating fine art and scupltures should not to be taken lightly!

Lighting fine art is not as easy as attaching a picture light on the frame or putting a light in the ceiling. It involves careful consideration of the type and style of art, temperature and humidity as well as how the light will affect the piece over the long run. All light bulbs emit ultraviolet and infrared radiation that can cause the temperatures on the surface of a painting to rise when the light is on and back to normal when the light is off. Over time, this can result in fading, cracking, and derogation of materials such as textiles. This is particularly true when using over the picture lights. So let's take a look at various light sources, light fixtures and learn how they might affect your art:

Infrared Heat & Ultraviolet Radiation

IR or infrared heat is an electromagnetic field capable of transferring energy from a source, such as a light fixture or fireplace, to a destination, such as the surfaces within a room like a painting. Radiation does not require an intervening medium; it can occur through a vacuum. It is responsible for the warming of the Earth by the sun. The sensitivity of paintings to ultraviolet and visible radiation varies, but illumination should not be excessive, nor should paintings be hung in direct, unfiltered sunlight. All light, particularly that in the ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) regions of the spectrum, induces chemical changes which age materials by degrading them. The most pernicious photochemical damage is caused by UV rays. IR radiation will cause chemical changes, and it accelerates the destructive effect of both UV light and visible radiation. Although not as profound in its destructive capacity as IR or UV, visible light can cause fading or darkening of some pigments. Photochemical deterioration, which occurs in organic objects such as works on paper and textiles, is cumulative and cannot be reversed. Extremes of temperature and humidity are also bad for paintings and they should be stored at temperatures within the range of 68-72 degrees F. The overall wattage of a light source is the main determinate of how much infrared and ultraviolet radiation is emitted. Remember, using low wattage lamps, the better off you are in protecting your art.

Types of Light Sources

Incandescent Lights
Standard incandescent light bulbs create a warm color that brings out the yellows and reds in art while flattering the blues and greens. They do generate some heat, however, and must be placed far enough away that the heat doesn't affect the artwork.

Halogen Lights
Halogens cast the purest white light, making them ideal for illuminating most art. They do generate a lot of heat, however, and must be placed far enough away that the heat doesn't affect the artwork. The halogen light source produces a pure white color of light which enhances all colors acrosss the spectrum.

Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent lighting distorts the color of artwork, and the high level of ultraviolet rays emitted by fluorescent lights damage works of art by causing accelerated fading. Fluorescent light sources are not recommended for lighting artwork.

Fixture Styles

Picture lights
Surface mounted picture lights hang directly over a painting or are attached to the frame. These lights, due to their close proximity to the art, are the most likely to affect the art. Works of art on paper, which include prints, drawings in all media, pastels, photographs and works on related materials, are among the most vulnerable to excessive light and fluctuations of temperatures and humidity. They should not be exposed to direct light, unfiltered fluorescent lamps, or the heat of incandescent bulbs. The ultraviolet rays from fluorescent tubes will cause structural damage and oxidative reactions. Limiting light exposure protects paper and pigments from chemical and physical deterioration.

Adjustable Accent Lights
Recessed adjustable accent lights are available in primarily incandescent and halogen sources. In today's lighting fixtures, the MR16 halogen accent light is the preferred fixture for lighting art over traditional incandescent sources. The small size, high output and dichroic characteristics of the light bulb emit a cool beam of light that is art friendly. In case you are wondering, dichroic is a lighting term for a type of reflector that allows the infrared heat and ultraviolet radiation to exit the back of the lamp. Used in conjunction with a UV filter, the MR16 light adjustable accent produces hardly any damaging light and can be used on even the most sensitive and priceless works.

Framing Projectors
Recessed optical framing projectors are available in primarily incandescent and halogen sources. One again, the MR16 halogen accent light is the preferred light source for lighting art over traditional incandescent sources. The Phantom Contour Projector, for example, produces no harmful light rays or heat that will damage art. For this reason, many museums, private collectors and art galleries use projectors to enhance their art. Another advantage to using a Phantom optical framing projector is the unique ability to shape the light to the exact contour of the object without unsightly shadows created on the wall by the frame. The result is a magical "lighted from within look" that can only be appreciated when seen in person or by photography.

Position and Intensity of the Light

Reduce Glare
Place the light at a 30-degree angle to the work of art to minimize glare. Add 5 degrees to the angle for a larger frame, to avoid casting a shadow. Subtract 5 degrees from the position to accent the texture of a painting. You can offset the light in the ceiling to counteract glare from the normal viewing angle.

Avoid Heat Damage
Place lights far enough away from a painting to avoid possible heat damage. Heat can crack oil paintings. Take special care when using hot halogen lights. To test the heat from your lights, put your hand between the art and the light source. If you can feel heat from the light, it could potentially damage an oil painting.

Intensity
A general rule of thumb for accenting a piece of art is to light it three times brighter than the rest of the room. So if you have other lighting in the room it is best to install dimmer controls.

Summary

The professional lighting consultants at Illuminations Lighting Design are well versed in all forms of art, accent and display lighting for museums, private collectors and commercial applications. Illuminations' understands how color, texture, form and shadow can be molded creatively to produce the effect required. This can only be accomplished with the correct equipment and a complete knowledge of lamp types and lamp performance.

Illuminations is a full service design build firm specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting installation, service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters and lighting control systems. For more information, please call 800-863-1184.

Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Cove Lighting Specialists, Fine art lighting, Lighting Sculptures, Optical Wendel Projectors, Phantom Contour Projectors, Picture Lighting Solutions