Video conference lighting is the key to flawless conference experience. It's the difference between looking exhausted and washed out and appearing vibrant and engaged. No matter where you are, getting the best lighting can definitely improve the video meeting, enabling you to look pro. And we are writing this post to help put your best face forward.
What are the types of lights for video conference?
If classified by the shape of the fixture, video conference lights can be divided into 3 common types, including ring light, LED panel, and light bar.
Ring light
This is usually the secret weapon of live streamers and vloggers. Using ring light for video conference can make you appear professional on each meeting call. It offers even, soft lighting that reduces hard shadows.
LED light panel
LED light panel for video conference is a good choice for some people, especially those who work from home. It is a camera fill light that is directed at you during meetings or when streaming and is designed to be used on or near the desk where you work or perform.
Video conference light bar
Do you want a professional studio vibe in your home office? The use of light bars is the way to go. They produce a broad, balanced light that may illuminate the whole workstation.
Five COLBOR options offering video conference lighting with different budgets
Artificial light is a must for video conferences since natural light gives you little control and changes as time and weather change. COLBOR has several lighting options that are portable and simple to operate, making them ideal for illuminating video meetings. They are either panel lights or point source lights and are different in price point. You can pick the one that suits your needs within your budget.
COLBOR PL5: 5W LED pocket light under $40
The COLBOR PL5 provides even lighting that’s ideal for video conferencing. It is simple to mount thanks to its magnetic back. You can attach it to your laptop to offer video conference lighting for laptop or mount it in any place you want. The color temperature is adjustable from 2700K to 6500K and the brightness is variable from 100% to 0%. The size is 110×65×15mm while the weight is 110g. You can take it anywhere you attend video conferences to illuminate your face.
Specs
- Color temperature range: 2700K-6500K (±100K)
- Color Rendering Index: Ra≥95
- Illumination: 1500Lux (at 30cm 6500K)
- Battery Capacity: 2100mAh
- Runtime: 100% brightness for about 90mins
- Dimension: 110×65×15mm
- Weight: 110g
What’s in the box
COLBOR PL8B: Bi-color LED panel under $50
The COLBOR PL8B is an LED panel with a wider range of color temperature, which is 2500K-9000K. It comes with a diffuser in the package, allowing it to provide soft lighting for video calls. The 5000mAh capacity of the inbuilt battery allows it to work for 125 minutes at 100% brightness. The magnetic back and two 1/4’’ screw holes ensure a wide range of mounting methods. You can use it on metal surfaces, mount it on cameras, tripod, etc.
Specs
- Color temperature range: 2500K-9000K
- Color Rendering Index: ≥98
- Battery Capacity: 5000mAh
- Runtime: About 125 minutes at 100% brightness
- Dimension: 125x75x17mm
- Weight: 187g
What’s in the box
COLBOR PL8R: RGB pocket light under $60
The COLBOR PL8R is similar to the PL8B but differs by its RGB LED beads. It is a good choice of lighting for video calls and also makes you shine on vlogging videos or live streaming with its full-color lighting and 13 lighting modes. It is a win-win option for those who need video conference lighting for remote working and video creation illumination.
Specs
- Color temperature range: 2500K-9000K
- Color Rendering Index: ≥98
- Battery Capacity: 5000mAh
- Runtime: About 125 minutes at 100% brightness
- Dimension: 125x75x17mm
- Weight: 187g
What’s in the box
COLBOR CL60: Bi-color option under $150
The COLBOR CL60 can offer video conference lighting that illuminates your face and your workspace. It comes with variable color temperature and brightness, allowing you to customize the illumination as you need. Its power output is 65W, far higher than the 3 panel lights mentioned above. This makes it suitable for large workspaces.
Specs
- Color temperature range: 2700K-6500K(±200)
- Color Rendering Index: 97+
- Illumination: 2,843Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 19,665Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector)
- Runtime: 100% brightness for about 90mins
- Dimension: 140×80×90mm (Light Base Not Included)
- Weight: Light: 550g; Light Base: 160g
What’s in the box
COLBOR CL100X: A bi-color light with high illumination under $200
The COLBOR CL100X is also good for video conferences in large rooms. It features similar features to the CL60 but has a higher power output. It is also adjustable in color temperature and brightness for flexible lighting setup. The supplied Bowen adapter allows you to mount a standard softbox on it to create soft lighting.
Specs
- Color temperature range: 2700K-6500K(±200)
- Color Rendering Index: 97+
- Illumination: 3,680Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 25,070Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector)
- Runtime: 100% brightness for about 90mins
- Dimension: 152×80×90mm (Light Base Not Included)
- Weight: Light: 800g; Light Base: 160g
What’s in the box
So which product is best for your video conferencing?
The best video conference lighting really depends on your specific lighting needs, your workspace, and your preferences.
If you want home office video conference lighting that is ultimately compact and simple to mount, the P5, PL8B, and PL8R can all be your choices. And you can choose among them based on your budget, the working time, and if you want to use it for other applications.
If you want to illuminate a large area or achieve a professional 3-point lighting setup, you will like the CL60 or CL100X. They can work for various lighting situations and are almost the same as each other. Just make your choice depending on the budget and how bright you want the light to be.
How to choose the best light for video meetings?
Picking the best light all comes down to striking the perfect balance for our needs. It usually involves considering factors like brightness level, color temperature, portability, and price.
Brightness Levels
It is critical to be able to change the brightness settings. Sometimes we require brighter lighting, while other times a softer glow is preferable. Look for a light with adjustable brightness.
Color Temperature
Different lighting may produce a range of colors, from warm yellow to cold blue. We like lights that let us change the color temperature to generate the most pleasing and natural-looking illumination.
Portability
As digital nomads, we clearly prioritize mobility above everything else. When we're on the go, a light that's simple to pack and set up may make all the difference.
Price
We are prepared to spend money on quality video conference lighting, but we also consider the cost. There are tons of options available at different price points. The key is to find the one that balances your needs and budgets.
How to set it up?
Color, brightness, and the position of your light source may all have an influence on how you appear in a virtual conference. But you don't have to be an expert to achieve video conference lighting setup correctly. Simply follow these steps:
- Positioning the light at eye level
- Adjusting brightness and color temperature to fit workspace
- Using natural light for video conference when possible
- Turn off overhead room lights to avoid harsh shadows
- Using virtual backgrounds
- Test everything before video conferences begin
Let's take a closer look at these steps.
Positioning the light at eye level
Positioning the light source at eye level or at a 45-degree angle can produce the most attractive light for video conferencing (while also avoiding the dreaded "double chin" effect). The idea is to keep any harsh shadows off your face.
Adjusting brightness and color temperature to fit workspace
To accommodate the natural light in our workstation, we alter the brightness and color temperature. It's about enhancing rather than competing with natural light.
A "daylight" or "natural" white with a balance of cold and warm tones is the optimal light temperature for video conferencing. The color temperature will be about 5600K. Some light bulbs even include a "daylight" or "natural white" option.
Using natural light for video conference when possible
We make every effort to use natural light wherever feasible. Placing yourself near a window may create gentle, pleasing light that is difficult to imitate with artificial sources. Simply keep in mind the time of day and how the shifting light may effect your video meetings.
Turn off overhead room lights to avoid harsh shadows
Overhead lighting in a space can sometimes cast harsh shadows. We've discovered that turning off the overhead light and utilizing a desk lamp or our laptop light may frequently result in improved video conference lighting.
Using virtual backgrounds
If everything else fails, or if our background is less than optimal, it is a good choice to use a virtual background. This can assist to reduce distractions and keep our attention on ourselves. Remember that proper lighting is still necessary to ensure that we stand out against the virtual background.
Test everything before video conferences begin
Test everything once your space is set up to avoid any unpleasant or last-minute rushing during your meeting. Start your video conferencing program and make any necessary adjustments to your lighting or position. You may even videotape yourself using a conferencing platform like Livestorm to check how you appear on camera.
More video conference lighting tips to make you look the best
Here are more tips to bring your video conference lighting to the next level.
Use soft light for video conferencing
In your video conference room illumination, avoid utilizing bare bulbs. A lampshade or diffuser will soften the lighting in the space and prevent harsh shadows. Keep in mind that the closer a light source is to a subject, the softer the shadows on that subject will be. Bring a lamp closer to you if it is too harsh. This may also assist in increasing the camera's exposure to your face. To create a comfortable environment in the space, balance natural lighting with correctly arranged soft white bulbs.
Create a three-point setup if you want a highly pro look
3-point lighting is commonly used for large events, seminars, and webcast setups. It employs three types of lighting:
- The main light is often positioned in front of and to the side of you, casting a shadow on one side of your face.
- To fill in the shadows, the fill light is placed opposite the main light. It is generally less bright than the key light.
- The backlight is located behind you and is aimed towards your head. It gives your hair a halo appearance and helps it shine.
Each lamp is normally put on a stand so that it may be easily moved around.
Choose bright colors for walls to reflect lighting for webcam meetings
To brighten up the area with reflected light, choose white or light-colored walls and tables in your meeting places. Light is reflected by white surfaces, whereas it is absorbed by black surfaces. By bouncing light about, using a lot of white or bright surfaces and walls in your conference room will brighten up the area.
Frequently asked questions
What lighting is best for Zoom meetings?
The best lighting for Zoom meetings is even and soft lighting that highlights our faces without throwing harsh shadows. Changing the brightness and color temperature to fit the environment also helps improve the look you appear on the screen.
How does light brightness affect video conferencing?
The brightness of a light may have a significant impact on video conferencing quality. Too much light can wipe away our features; too little light might make us look gloomy and hazy. We can find the correct balance with adjustable light settings.
Should the light be in front of or behind my PC?
To reduce glare, the light should be set at an angle that covers your screen rather than behind you. The optimal location for your display light would be somewhere below or over the desk.