How Light Sources Render White

Craig DiLouie May 13, 2014

Many companies add whiteners to laundry detergent, paints, fabrics and other materials to make whites look “whiter than white,” but the choice of light sources may be even more important, according to new research.

Kevin W. Houser, professor of architectural engineering at Penn State University, recently led a study about how well various light sources render white. As consumers continue to switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent and LED lamps, they may not be satisfied with how well these sources render white.

Working with a Penn State student and researchers from Soraa Inc., Houser asked 39 participants to observe various combinations of light sources and white objects to see how well the source affected their perception of white.

The short answer: Many LED lamps do not showcase or differentiate the appearance of white products. Click here to learn more.

The same set of white cards as seen under a violet-pumped light emitting diode (LED) top, and under a blue-pumped LED below. Image: Patrick Mansell

The same set of white cards as seen under a violet-pumped light emitting diode (LED) top, and under a blue-pumped LED below. Image: Patrick Mansell

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