Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post - Matching north light with fluorescent bulbs

Michael Georges · 12-10-2002, 08:05 PM

Marvin:

I have a mostly north facing window. While it is not nearly high enough, it serves and I love the natural light.

I have always wondered about temp and CRI and what the values were equivalent to. In other words, I have heard before that a 5000+K bulb better simulated natural sunlight - but sunlight has nothing to do with the light that you get from a north window and I wonder if it is too intense to simulate what you would get from a north window. Do you have any thoughts about this? What is the temp and CRI of the light coming into a typical north window? Unobstructed of course.

I have heard a lot of people talk about this and I wonder if they are getting the wrong info about temp because those companies seem to be selling bulbs that simulate sunlight, not the soft, cool reflective light of the sky that comes through a north window.

12-10-2002, 08:05 PM	#10
Michael Georges PAINTING PORTRAITS FROM LIFE MODERATOR FT Professional Joined: Nov 2001 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 846	Marvin: I have a mostly north facing window. While it is not nearly high enough, it serves and I love the natural light. I have always wondered about temp and CRI and what the values were equivalent to. In other words, I have heard before that a 5000+K bulb better simulated natural sunlight - but sunlight has nothing to do with the light that you get from a north window and I wonder if it is too intense to simulate what you would get from a north window. Do you have any thoughts about this? What is the temp and CRI of the light coming into a typical north window? Unobstructed of course. I have heard a lot of people talk about this and I wonder if they are getting the wrong info about temp because those companies seem to be selling bulbs that simulate sunlight, not the soft, cool reflective light of the sky that comes through a north window. __________________ Michael Georges www.fineportraitsinoil.com Michael's Life Drawing & Painting Blog Regular and consistent work from life will improve your portraits. Drawing skills are the foundation of all an artist does.