You should get a full-spectrum lamp for your LEGO space

[62Bricks]

On the left is a handful of old light gray 2x2 dishes with one light bluish gray mixed in, illuminated by incandescent bulbs. On the right are the same dishes under a full-spectrum compact fluorescent lamp. The full-spectrum light really helps distinguish the shades of gray on small parts. It works great for culling out old yellowed parts, as well.

Works even better with brown/dark brown/reddish brown. Also highlights the differences in the modern white pieces - I didn't notice the variation in these tiles when I was standing at the PAB wall. When I got them home under the full spectrum light, I can tell some are of a more bluish hue:

And if you are trying to distinguish old CA pieces, it helps contrast the difference in color and appearance. (ABS on the left, CA on the right)

[badbob001]

I'm not letting any compact fluorescent-based lighting near my lego displays since they produce UV that can permanently alter the color of bricks. I'm using LED lights now. I'm not sure if it's possible to have a full-spectrum light that excludes UV because UV may be desired for 'full spectrum'.

Edited September 28, 2014 by badbob001

[Vorkosigan]

Just use a LED "daylight" bulb and you're good to go. Noticed a big difference between a CREE LED bulb vs an old "soft white" CFL.

[62Bricks]

I'm not letting any compact fluorescent-based lighting near my lego displays since they produce UV that can permanently alter the color of bricks. I'm using LED lights now. I'm not sure if it's possible to have a full-spectrum light that excludes UV because UV may be desired for 'full spectrum'.

Yes, full-spectrum LEDs also emit UV. Encapsulated CFLs emit less UV than a 60-watt incandescent.

[zux]

As far as I know white LEDs have a green color drop in white color spectrum. Which means it will be harder to distinguish between green and blue pieces.

[antp]

Just use a LED "daylight" bulb and you're good to go. Noticed a big difference between a CREE LED bulb vs an old "soft white" CFL.

I use a Philips Daylight bulb (not LED, just an old fashion lamp), compared to a classic bulb (or even CFL) with yellowish light it already helps a lot for the old grey vs bluish grey.

[torso]

There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about light here. An incandescent bulb has a continuous and even spectrum, while flourescent light is uneven. "Full spectrum" is just marketing-speak intended to make it sound better than it is, primarily to distinguish them from flourescent lights with narrow (and unpleasant) spectrum.

The effect you're seeing is from color temperature. Incandescent light bulbs giva a warm/soft white light (low temperature: 2700-3300K) which is a bit hard to see in. "Daylight" means that the light is cooler (higher temperature: around 5000K), which is much easier for our eyes.

[dr_spock]

I have full spectrum fluorescent tubes for my aquarium. They are in the 8000K color temperature range. They bring out the colors in the fishes. My kitchen plants grow lights are 6500K. I prefer around 5000K. Philips make compact fluorescent bulbs in that range. 3000K is too much of a yellow cast when taking pictures.

[torso]

3000K is too much of a yellow cast when taking pictures.

If you set the white-balance setting in the camera to 3000K, this effect will go away. (Or choose "incandescent" or whatever it's called in your camera. Hopefully the setting exists at all.)