Have you ever noticed how the color of your house can look different at different times of the day? Or how the walls of a room may seem warmer on a sunny morning and cooler at night when the lights are turned on? The way that the human eye perceives color involves several factors, but the primary factor is the Light Reflectance Value (LRV).
The LRV for a paint color can be found on color chips and fan decks at your local paint store. It’s a two-digit number that corresponds to the percentage of light reflected. Think of it this way, white reflects light and black absorbs light. A bright white paint will have an LRV of 85% and a pure black paint will have an LRV of 5%. A higher LRV means a higher amount of light reflected.
The Impact of Sunlight
The way that sunlight changes through the course of a day is
self-evident. Photographers are particularly aware of this. Morning sunlight is
warmer from the perspective of color. It is more yellow. My mid-day, the
sunlight develops a bluish cast. By late afternoon the sunlight is warm again,
favoring red. Seasonally, Winter sun is cooler/bluer than it is in Summer. 
Most indoor spaces rely on artificial light to supplement or
replace natural light. The three types of artificial light found in most homes
are incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent. Incandescent and halogen lighting
are warmer. They enhance reds and yellows, so if you want a blue wall in a room
with incandescent lighting, for example, you would tone the paint with a little
red. Fluorescent lighting is cooler and enhances blues and greens.
Photo: Incandescent Lighting Enhances Warm Colors
Combinations
With most interiors, there are multiple combinations of
light in play. The numberof windows in a room affect how much natural and
artificial light are present at certain times, but you also need to consider
which direction the windows face. In a room with southern exposure, you get
more direct light. If the windows provide eastern exposure, you have more
morning sun, while western exposure provides more afternoon sun. Northern and western exposures provide cooler,
bluish tones and southern/eastern exposures provide warmer, yellower tones.
Other Considerations
Other elements in a room can also affect your color
perception by reflecting additional tones. Flooring, drapes, mirrors and area
rugs can reflect a different color cast in certain lighting. For example, a red
oak hardwood floor with direct sunlight through a window will enhance the
warmth of a yellow wall. Sheen is normally chosen for its durability and hiding
power, but it can also impact the perception of color by reflecting additional
light. Higher gloss paints are typically used to draw your attention to detail on trim.
Walls use flatter sheens because you don’t necessarily want to draw attention
to a wall.
Summary
The LRV of a color lets you know how much light will be
reflected on a painted surface. Colors and sheens can be selected or modified
to reflect the quantity and quality of a room’s light sources. The objects and décor
of your room can also influence how your eyes perceive a color. When selecting
paint for your next project, try painting a 12” x 12” piece of cardboard or drywall.
View the painted sample in different lighting conditions and in different areas
of the room.
Terminology
To avoid confusion, you may want to familiarize yourself
with these color terms.
Tint: a color that has been lightened by adding white
Shade: a color that has been darkened by adding blackTone: a color that has been modified by adding black and white
Chroma: brightness or dullness based on the purity of
the color
Warm Colors: reds, oranges, yellows
Cool Colors: greens, blues, violets
No comments:
Post a Comment