Conservation & Heritage Issue 50 Winter 2025/Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 58
Have you ever wondered why standing at a certain point and
looking at a piece of art is perfect, and then you move to
another point in the room, and it is all wrong? This is due to
light glare and can be caused by light from a window, room
light or light from your picture light.
Although you are limited on what you can do with external
light from your window, you can remove and minimise
light glare from your room light & picture light sources by
reviewing the angle of incidence on your painting from each
light source, as they will create an angle of reflection (or glare
point).
On picture lights, the arm height and projection are key to
gaining a soft graze of light across the canvas to cover it fully.
Longer and higher is better for long paintings and shorter
and lower for small paintings. One size does not fit all.
The correct head size & arm dimensions will make all the
difference in gaining the full canvas coverage and ultimately
your viewing experience.
Individual controllability of each picture light is crucial.
Many people control a wall of picture lights with a single
dimmer switch. In principle, it seems fine to dim them
all together, but each canvas is different, having different
textures, colours, sizes, etc. and each will require a different
light level. If you have 3 paintings on the wall; the first can be
under lit, the second perfectly lit and the third over lit. With
individual dimming, you can set the perfect light levels for
each painting. Over lighting a painting can damage it.
When lighting art, there are a few options available now to
gain the correct light levels. When choosing what is best for
you, make sure you consider the following options:
•
New LED Picture Lights
•
Style, size and finish
•
Existing Halogen Picture Lights
•
Use Picture Perfect LED Upgrade Kits
•
Remote Lighting
•
Use of remote Tracklights, Uplights or Downlights
•
Framing Projectors
•
Recessed, Track or Surface Mounted options
You don’t have to use picture lights to light your art, but if
you do, make sure you consider all these points. If I can be
of further assistance in helping you here, please do make
contact.
Contact Details:
Heritage Lighting Matters Ltd
T: 07793 581314
E: iain@heritagelightingmatters.com
W: heritagelightingmatters.com
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