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MIXORA CONCEPT

Color temperature

A description of the chromatic appearance of a light source relative to heated-body radiation, usually expressed in kelvin.

colorbridgeStrong evidence
IN PLAIN LANGUAGE

Lower correlated color temperatures usually look warmer and higher values cooler. Artist talk about a warm or cool paint is a related but different, relational use of temperature language.

What “Strong evidence” means

The core definition or effect is well established across authoritative standards, foundational research or a broad research literature. The label does not make every practical prediction certain.

Marker-board illustration created specifically to explain Color temperature: A description of the chromatic appearance of a light source relative to heated-body radiation, usually expressed in kelvin.VISUAL EXPLANATION · MARKER BOARD
A description of the chromatic appearance of a light source relative to heated-body radiation, usually expressed in kelvin.
EXAMPLE

A 2700 K lamp usually appears warmer than a 6500 K daylight-like lamp.

COMMON CONFUSION

Kelvin describes a light source; calling a blue paint warm or cool compares it with other blues.

ASK YOURSELF

Are you describing the illumination or a relationship within the palette?

RELATED CONCEPTS
colorHue

The attribute by which a color is described as red, yellow, green, blue or an intermediate family.

color × thought × bridgeColor constancy

The tendency to perceive familiar surface colors as relatively stable despite changes in illumination.

color × thought × bridgeVisual adaptation

A change in visual sensitivity after sustained exposure to particular light levels or colors.

References

Last reviewed

  1. 01
    Colour Appearance Analysis

    CIE · 1993 · CIE Technical Collection 103-1993

    Distinguishes measured colorimetry from perceived attributes under specified viewing conditions.
    Reference source
What the source labels mean
Primary source
Original work, experiment, standard or historical text.
Academic source
Scholarly research or review published for an academic audience.
Reference source
An expert standard, encyclopedia or institutional explanation that summarizes a field.
General reference
A practical specialist resource useful for application, but not treated as decisive research by itself.