What do you know about RGB LED lighting?

What is RGB LED lighting？

With RGB standing for red, green, and blue, RGB LED lighting is the illuminating equipment that combines diodes of these three colors to create almost any color. Specifically speaking, LED is the abbreviation of light-emitting diodes, which is a semiconductor that emits light when current passes through it. RGB LED is a basic illumination module that consists of three individual diodes.

How does RGB light create different colors?

RGB lighting creates and displays more than 16 million different hues of colors. Red, green, and blue are the three primary colors of the additive color system. The combination of these color is based upon additive color mixing which is also used in computer monitors and TV displays. For instance, A mixture of 100% of each color can create white color.

To realize a variety of different color output, it is necessary to regulate the intensity of each diode. Pulse width modulation (PWM) and constant current reduction (CCR) are two typical mechanisms to adjust the intensity.

Pulse width modulation

Light-emitting diodes are all designed to illuminate at a rated current so as to reach the largest brightness output. PWM changed the current to between zero and the rated current rapidly. That is, in the PWM driver, the LED load is switching from the off state or running at the rated current in a high frequency. The brightness output depends on the percentage of on time and off time. For instance, to set the brightness of 20%, the diodes should be on for 20% of the time and off for 80% of the time. For the illuminating equipment that needs to precisely adjust the level of each color for color mixing or be dimmed lowered than 40% while maintaining constant color, PWM based driver is a good option.

Constant current reduction

CCR is also known as analog dimming, which is a comparatively simple way to control the magnitude of current that is supplied to the diodes. In such supply, the current passes through the LED diodes continuously at an allotted amount for a designated brightness level. The brightness intensity increases according to the rise of the amount of current flowing through the diode within a certain range. CCR is applicable to fixture which requires a UL Class 2 rated output for dry or damp locations. However, it performs not as well as PWM in delivering precise illumination output.

What are the benefits of RGB LED light?

Generally speaking, there are three important features that make it popular in recent decades.

Countless color options

RGB LED light enables you to change the color emitted by the panel without effort. It brings you countless creative possibilities by providing endless color options including single colors and changing colors. Moreover, it also features the high color rendering index (CRI) and adjustable color temperature, well applicable to various areas such as stages, displays, and photography.

Flexible design

RGB strips are so flexible that they can be bent up to ninety degrees. This provides chances for you to place them on any places where you previously thought impossible. Besides, they can be cut into certain length since they are flexible circuit boards. The sizes of these chips are very compact, therefore well suitable to be portable illuminating equipment.

Low operating temperature

Some people may think RGB panel will generate a lot of heat when working since it performs well in color changing. Actually, it consumes less energy and emits less heat compared with traditional lamps like tungsten. Low operating temperature conduces to long duration. The lifespan of it can reach up to 50,000hours.

What are the uses of RGB?

Visual sense builds 80% of the human perception. Changing colors is a visual way to transmit information that can easily catch everyone’s eyes. The charming and changeable illuminating effects make RGB bulbs well suited for stage performance, decoration as well as creative production. The applications of these color changing lamps are almost unlimited. Here are some typical uses of these bulbs.

Photography lighting

The controllable color is one of the most significant reasons why RGB lamp is popular in photography field. Photographers and filmmakers utilize it for special illumination effects like candlelight, strobe, and campfire.

In studio photography, it comes in many forms, such as sticks, rings, and panels. The design flexibility provides lots of possibilities of its size. The RGB LED lighting PL8R from COLBOR is a good example. It combines compact size and dynamic illumination effects, offering great flexibility for application. Although it may not be a powerful key light, it can add unique luminous effects for the shooting and contribute to creative works.

Stage luminaire

Thanks to its countless color options and easy control, RGB performs well as a stage lighting. Stage directors often use it to create various effects so as to influence the audience’s mood. Think about the classic Phantom of the Opera, then you will see how important the changeable brightness is. As the scene changes, the brightness changes. Dimmable and mixing illuminating effects play a role in creating ideal atmosphere. 

Decoration

The RGB tape light is commonly used as decoration at home and mall. As residential decoration, they can be used in kitchen, bedroom, and studies. In the shopping mall, they can be seen at the store window and the holiday furnishing. For example, when Christmas is coming, the shops are usually decorated by these strips. The Christmas trees are covered by them, which emits multicolored brightness, creating warm and lively atmosphere. 

Conclusion

RGB LED lighting performs well in creating brightness of selectable colors at a low cost while consuming not so much power. There are many options available on the fixture market to fit the needs of any photography and shooting at any budget. To find detailed guides about choosing illumination equipment, click How to choose light for video recording.