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LED Strip Lights for Photographing Artworks
I'm looking to create a lighting setup for digitally photographing artworks (mainly paintings) and then printing the files.
I intended to make 4 panels around 40x50cm from 2-3 5m led rolls cut to lengths and attached to a backboard. I would like to be able to dim these panels also.
This sounds like a great approach and excellent use case for the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights. The LED strip lights include double-sided adhesive and should allow for quick installation onto the backboard.
For dimming, we recommend our FilmGrade flicker-free LED dimmer, which can be installed in between the LED strip lights and the power supply. Please see below for the product link:
I am looking at the 99% absolute series and would like advice on how much light I may need (how close to space led strips on the panels?) and which driver I may need for say 7.5-meter strip cut to lengths.
The amount of light needed would depend on the brightness needed for your photography (perhaps determined by your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings) as well as the distance away from the artwork. As a general ballpark estimate, each meter emits approximately 1250 lumens, which is equivalent to a 75-100 watt incandescent bulb.
The maximum run length for the product is 5.0 meters. If connecting 7.5 meters per panel, you will need two separate power supplies (and perhaps, unfortunately, you will also require two separate dimmers for the separate circuits). The link to the power supply is shown below:
Our general recommendation for spacing is to space the LED strip lights no farther apart than the distance from the illumination surface. In other words, if the panel is to be placed 20 cm from the illumination surface, the LED strips should not be spaced farther than 20 cm apart.
Also, would the absolute series be good to record digital colors from paintings? I may install a linear polarizing sheet across the front of the panels also. They will likely be set at 45 degrees to paint.
Yes, the ABSOLUTE SERIES is a great option for digital image capture! The 99 CRI rating is the highest that is currently available in the industry and informs us that the color accuracy as captured by your camera would be nearly perfect.
The polarizing sheet, as well as perhaps a diffuser sheet, can help ensure even and smooth light distribution across the paintings.
I notice a beam angle referenced in preassembled lighting panels - can you briefly explain this? and is it possible to recreate it with the strip LEDs?
The beam angle refers to the angle at which the light is dispersed. Our LED strip lights have a beam angle of 120 degrees, which you can think of as being a very wide conical light dispersion angle.
An led strip shows a lumen output of 6250. What would be a comparison in Lux at 1m or 3m? I suspect I am a little underpowered at 6250 lumens / 416 watts approx.
A single row of LED strip lights will provide approximately 300 lux at 1 meter, and 25 lux at 3 meters. If using multiple rows, however, you would be able to add these lux values up in a linear fashion to determine the illuminance on that particular surface.
You mentioned a space of 20cm between strips at a 20cm distance. I had guessed placing led strips at around an 8cm gap (mainly for estimated panel size using a 1x 5m reel, but I think I may need the strips much closer.
Closer together than the 20 cm distance I had somewhat arbitrarily suggested is not an issue at all.
I think I may need 4 panels of 5m strips cut to lengths (with a driver and dimmer for each panel) although this becomes pricy. Would you concur that with your products a 5m strip is the maximum for the drivers and dimmer?
Unfortunately, the maximum run length would indeed be 5 meters due to the power supply capacity as well as the limitations of the LED strip circuitry.
I generally understand CRI and the wavelengths of color and your absolute series seems to be as good as a "roto light" or "Gemini lite panel" and possibly as good as it gets. I see another figure being used for color perception and described as TICI. Do you have a rating for the Absolute series and what is TICI? (can't find it on google)
TLCI is the Television Lighting Consistency Index, frequently used in TV and broadcast environments in Europe. Similar to CRI, the TLCI determines color accuracy in the context of cameras and photography. Our ABSOLUTE SERIES has been tested to 99 TLCI (please see attached).
Are your LEDs flicker-free? I presume 4x 5m reels could all be exactly the same intensity and color? And the best color accuracy would be from a fixed-temperature LED. I note the preassembled panels from others have control over temperature, intensity, and hue in some cases.
Our LEDs are flicker-free when used with a flicker-free power source. All reels are calibrated to the same brightness and color point and are not adjustable, unfortunately.
Would you happen to know what the import charges would be?
Unfortunately, import charges are quite variable and it is difficult to provide estimates up front, as these can depend on the specific port of import as well as customs officer discretion.
If you would like to inquire with local customs authorities in advance, you might want to check on the estimated costs for products with HTS code 8539.50.0090, which is what is typically used for LED strip lights.
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LED power suppliesLED strip lightsLED dimmersLED DriversD50 (printing, digitizing)Flicker free
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