What Is Full Spectrum Fluorescent Lighting

Indoor plants respond well to the full spectrum of these special bulbs.

What is full spectrum fluorescent lighting.

Full spectrum fluorescent lighting uses a mix of phosphors in order to reach wider ranges of the kelvin color temperature scale. It is only with this spectral similarity that a light source can effectively deliver the benefits of full spectrum lighting. Full spectrum light sources may have psychological benefits particularly in societies that place value on natural environments. To fully benefit from full spectrum lighting a light source s spectrum must be as close to natural daylight as possible.

Fluorescent full spectrum lamps the type originally developed don t present the different wavelengths of the spectrum evenly. Some types of fluorescent bulbs produce full spectrum light which mimics the spectrum and color temperature of real daylight. At its core full spectrum light is one that approximates natural daylight at a spectral level. This light can be used for a variety of purposes some can even be used in combatting the effects of seasonal affective disorder sad.

Origins of the term the term full spectrum was essentially made up by light bulb companies as a way to distinguish products that illuminate all colors from bulbs with a more limited range like soft white or cool white. The lamps look white when unlit similar to typical fluorescent lamps. Full spectrum is used to describe natural light like sunlight or artificial lights that produce a similar effect to sunlight. Full spectrum light bulbs are available in several different forms including fluorescent.

Even lighting products that claim to contain full spectrum light particularly fluorescent lamps are lacking in certain colors especially deep red wavelengths. Full spectrum light filters are a much more economical than daylight fluorescent bulbs and operate in the same way as full spectrum light bulbs. Our fluorescent filters re purpose the light provided by your fluorescent bulbs providing the full spectrum of usable natural light. Unlike full spectrum electric light sources however daylight does not have a fixed spectrum.

One of the claims often associated with full spectrum light sources is that they are most like natural daylight. Graphs of their outputs show spikes at various color temperatures while natural daylight shows more of a bell curve on a graph.