Invest in the right lighting

Having the right lighting is crucial when you're creating, especially to ensure that the colours you use are rendered accurately. Otherwise, you risk choosing a colour that appears completely different in daylight than what you intended. Natural light gives the truest representation of colour, but it can be hard to come by when you're working indoors. And when winter arrives, well, then it becomes even more difficult, both day and night.

Luckily, there are solutions! Lighting specifically designed to mimic natural light as closely as possible. Thanks to these lamps, we can create all year round with perfect colour accuracy, no matter the time of day. Daylight is a British manufacturer of task lighting designed to replicate natural daylight. Not only are their lamps of the highest quality, but their carefully considered designs also make for a stylish addition to any studio, workspace, or desk.

In this guide, we’ll explore how lighting affects colour perception, what to consider when choosing lighting, and which lamps we recommend for your creative sessions. And if you're still unsure, feel free to reach out to our customer service team, they’re happy to offer tips and help you choose the lamp best suited for your needs.

Before we dive into the benefits of good lighting, let’s explain a term that often comes up when discussing professional lamps and high-quality lighting: the abbreviation CRI.

What is CRI (Colour Rendering Index)?

CRI, or Colour Rendering Index, is a measure of how accurately a light source, like a lamp, renders colours. Imagine placing a red apple under two different lamps. Under one with a high CRI, the apple will appear just as red as it would in natural daylight. Under a lamp with low CRI, it might look dull or distorted.

CRI is a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 represents a light source that renders colours just like natural daylight. The closer the light source is to 100, the better it is at showing colours accurately.

CRI above 90 is considered excellent and is used in fields where colour accuracy is essential. Professionals who commonly invest in CRI 90+ lamps include artists, designers, photographers, tattooists, nail technicians, makeup artists, and more.

CRI between 80 and 90 is considered good and usually sufficient for home use.

CRI below 80 may be less satisfying, and colours can start to appear more artificial or distorted.

5 Benefits of Investing in the Right Lighting

There’s lighting, and then there’s good lighting. We strongly believe it’s worth investing in the right kind of light, because the benefits are many. But what exactly are those benefits? What type of lamp should you choose? And what are the differences between the options? Below are five key benefits of investing in the right lighting, and some important factors to consider when selecting your lamp.

1. True Colour Rendering with the Right Light

Whether you’re painting a canvas or editing photos, it’s essential that your light source gives you an accurate representation of colour. Daylight’s lamps mimic natural daylight to ensure your work appears true to life, so you can stop worrying about inconsistent results. Thanks to daylight-level lighting, you can feel confident that the shades and tones you’re working with will appear just as intended.

If you’re working with graphic design, layout, or lettering, precise colour matching is especially critical, so that your results remain consistent across different media.

2. Reduced Eye Strain

Long (and perhaps late?) hours spent on a project can be demanding on your eyes. Natural light requires less effort for your eyes to process than standard LED lighting. Eye strain can lead to fatigue and headaches, but with the right lighting, you can avoid all that. Daylight’s lighting minimises strain, so you can work for longer periods, at any time of day. The light is glare-free, a feature particularly helpful for detailed work like embroidery or sculpting.

3. See More Details and Work with Precision

If you’re working with fine detail, such as jewellery making or miniature modelling, high-quality lighting is essential for your eyes to pick up every nuance. Lighting that mimics natural daylight helps you perceive subtle differences in colour and shape. Contrast becomes clearer and sharper, allowing you to work with clarity and precision. Choose a Daylight lamp with a magnifying lens, and you’ll be able to draw on grains of rice. Literally!

4. Boost Productivity and Mood

Research shows that natural light can improve mood, increase energy levels, and enhance cognitive function. All of which can lead to greater productivity and creativity. By simulating daylight, Daylight lamps help you create an inspiring environment where you can focus on your next masterpiece.

5. Adjustable Brightness to Suit Your Needs

Many of Daylight’s lamps offer adjustable brightness settings. Sometimes you need sharp, focused lighting for intricate tasks; other times, a wide, soft light is better, for instance when photographing your work. The versatility of Daylight’s lamps allows you to use the same light for many different projects, adjusting it to suit your needs.

No matter what creative tasks you take on, you can trust Daylight to have a solution that will elevate your workspace. Good lighting shouldn’t be considered a luxury, it’s a necessity for creative work.

Studio Lighting and Lighting for the Atelier

DuoLamp helps eliminate shadows while you work, and allows you to adjust the brightness across four different settings. It easily clamps onto your chosen workspace.

The Electra Floor Lamp features a sleek and discreet design, perfect both by your desk or in a cosy reading corner!

Another floor lamp that’s easy to move around is the Daylight Artist Studio Lamp 2, offering a wide spread of light, adjustable height, and tilt functionality. Some even call it the ultimate work lamp!

If you're working with content for social media or tattooing, the Aura Ring Floor Lamp is designed just for that! The ring light provides soft, shadow-free illumination, optimised for rendering skin tones accurately.

The Wafer Lightbox is one of Daylight’s most popular products—an ultra-thin lightbox with dimmable brightness.

And for those painting on canvas using an easel, you must check out the Easel Lamp Go. This lamp attaches directly to your easel and offers outstanding colour rendering.

Magnifying Lamps

Daylight offers several lamps that combine natural light with magnifying lenses. A magnifier can be extremely helpful for detailed work or when you need a bit of extra visual support. Once you try working with magnification, you may never want to go back!

MAG Lamp S is ideal for detailed work such as jewellery making and model building. Its height offers broad illumination across your workspace, while the magnifying lens helps you focus on fine elements.

Magnificent Pro is hard to categorise. It has so many features, with the magnifier being just one of them. It can be used as both a floor and desk lamp, depending on how it’s mounted. The flexible arm allows for full adjustability while you work.

Tri Sun Light Therapy & Desk Lamp is both practical and enjoyable. The various brightness levels are great for task lighting and can also be used for light therapy during the darker months. Its compact size makes it easy to move around.

Wireless and Battery-Powered Desk Lamps

Portable lamps are perfect if you’re on the move or if you don’t have a fixed workspace.

Smart GO Lamp and Foldi Go Lamp provide wide light coverage for a pleasant work experience. They also look great when not in use and take up very little space.

Halo 5D Table Magnifier includes a magnifying lens, letting you work on fine details without blocking your light source.