McDaniel Light Sources Prevent the Best Colors
Many people have had the experience of carefully selecting the best paint colors for a room in their McDaniel home, only to be disappointed with this color once it has been painted on the wall. This common phenomenon is inevitably the result of at least one of the numerous visual distortion factors that affect the human eye and alter our perception of colors throughout the paint selection process. Among the 11 Distortion Factors, the one that often has the most dramatic effect on your ability to successfully pick paint colors for a room is the Light Source Factor. Therefore, understanding how different sources of light behave in your home’s interior spaces is an important secret to picking your best paint colors.
The first point here is that the colors we see are actually just the result of light bouncing off of a surface and entering our retinas. When we see a piece of paper that looks yellow, what we are actually seeing is yellow light bouncing off of that piece of paper. That could be because the light source itself is yellow or because the piece of paper is yellow.
Also, light of a certain color tends to pull paint colors toward that end of the spectrum. We need not even worry about the actual color of objects, we should only be concerned about what color an object appears to be as a result of the light that is shining on it. We use various types of lighting to illuminate our homes and businesses, and each one has different effects on the colors around us. Your professionals McDaniel painters can assist you with all of your paint needs for the lighting that you have in your home or office.
Natural Day Light or Sunlight
Natural light, or the day light of the sun, is the purest light source (nearest to white) that most people ever see. It shines (somewhat equally) across the entire visible spectrum of light from violet to red (think of a prism).
The predominant color visible in sunlight goes from the high red end in the early morning, to the lower blue end of the spectrum at midday, and back toward reddish-orange in the evening.
The fluctuating effects of day light will cause a paint color to tend to look warmest around dawn and dusk, and appear its coolest and lightest when the sun is at its peak in the sky.
These effects of day light can be further accentuated if the sunlight is obscured by atmospheric conditions. Moisture in the sky in the evening and early morning, brought on by various weather systems, can cause an even redder hue as the sunlight is filtered more by the atmosphere.
Fluorescent Light
The wavelengths in the fluorescent light spectrum, unlike those in sunlight which cover the whole visible spectrum equally, spike very sharply between 490nm and 590nm. This means that almost all the glow from a fluorescent light bulb is green; there is very little light from the rest of the visible spectrum.
This is a major factor in the paint color selection process. Colors will look very different in paint stores (typically lit by fluorescent light bulb) than they do at home. They have a greener tint, in addition to being lighter, in the store.
The traditional fluorescent light bulb has become much less common in new homes, even in kitchens and bathrooms. However, fluorescent light is quickly regaining popularity in the form of the Compact Fluorescent Light bulb (CFLs).
Incandescent Light
Incandescent lighting, the light produced by the standard, traditional light bulb, is still the most common type of light found in most rooms of a McDaniel house.
Incandescent bulbs shine more evenly across a larger portion of the visible spectrum of light than fluorescent bulbs, but they still have a considerable increase in output toward the high end of the spectrum, actually reaching their highest point within the visible spectrum at 750nm, the very edge.
However, light bulbs vary in their performance. GE’s Reveal bulb has a much less even distribution of light across its spectrum causing it to be noticeably redder than their Soft White bulbs.
Halogen Light
Halogen bulbs are most commonly used in floodlights, recessed (or can-) lights, spotlights, track-lights, pendant lights, bar-lights, etc.
Halogen’s peak light concentrations are at wavelengths of about 650nm, giving it a reddish hue just like incandescent light.
650nm is not as far into the red end of the spectrum as the standard incandescent bulb, but the reddening effect is often more pronounced.
This is due to the fact that the halogen light bulb releases much less light throughout the rest of the spectrum, concentrating much more of its energy at this peak wavelength.
Xenon Light
Xenon lights are relatively rare in the home. They are available for some spotlight and track-light applications; but they are becoming increasingly popular as bar-lights, intended for use under kitchen cabinets to illuminate countertops.
Xenon light bulbs have a peak wavelength around 450nm putting them deep into the blue (almost violet) range.
Like incandescent lights, Xenon bulbs emit light along a broader range of the visible spectrum.
They have less of a spike at any particular wavelength, and are typically less bright, than fluorescent lights. This means they tend to distort the colors around them less.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=E._W._Ennis
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Home Style and Faux Painting in Maryland
Maryland Painting is one of the effective way of enhancing the aesthetics and atmosphere of a house. Through a decorative painting technique such as Faux painting, a certain house may become even more stylish and classy. Surely a house decorated with faux painting will stand out from the rest of its neighborhood.
Faux painting utilizes several techniques to achieve the desired effect and decoration. One effect is painting stripes. It is one of the most popular faux techniques that can add the visual appeal to any space. Stripes are created with the use of masking tapes or painter’s tape. The width of the stripes can be adjusted by setting the distance between the tapes. Although taping itself requires considerable time and effort, the resulting effects once the painting job I completed will surely be worth the effort.
Sponge painting is recommended for those who are allergic to painter’ tape or for those with limited patience in taping. By sponging, a porous surface may have additional surface texture and depth. This is achieved by first applying a single color onto the surface then sponging another paint of different color over the first layer of paint. The sponge effect can have varies results depending on the type of sponge utilized, how wet the sponge is with paint and how well the paint blends with the sponge. Two techniques are actually used in sponge painting. Sponging on, as in applying the glaze to the walls with the sponge which creates a more porous and mottled look. Sponging off, applying the glaze to the surface with a roller and removing the desired amount with the sponge, creates a more subtle and textured appearance. Paint products which may be used for both techniques are latex semi-gloss paint (the base color) and faux technique glaze (the complimenting color).
Color Washing is one of the easiest decorative painting technique which provides an alluring worn look. A weathered stucco look is resembled by the visibly overlapping brush strokes of color washing. Different color wash effects may be attained by use of different materials such as a brush, a sponge, a rag or a cloth. Imperfect or slightly damaged walls are ideally applied on with color washing to give it a subtle texture finish which not only hides the flaws but also catches the attention. Yellow, orange, red and other bright colors are best for use in color washing.
Rag painting is done in a similar way as sponge painting, the only difference is that a rag is utilized instead of a sponge. Like sponging, rag painting is also done either by ragging on where the glaze is applied to the wall with a rag, or by ragging off with the glaze is applied to the wall by a roller then removed from the wall with a rag. The base color is allowed to be shown through and thus create a textured and speckled surface by ragging on. Whereas a slightly more subtle finished look is achieved by ragging off.
Choose the Best Maryland Paint
If you are looking to do some decorating, upgrading, or even just looking to make the wood furniture look new again, you are going to need to know how to select the right paint for the job.
Are you confused over the vast selection of different types of paint? if so, don’t be surprised. There are many different purposes for paint.
Paint the exterior of your home? if so, picking a brand won’t matter much, any typical brand will do as long as you can afford it.
There is Glidden, Krylon, Behr, Valspar, and countless other brands, try not to spend too much time trying to choose a brand. In the end, the brand name doesn’t matter, the outcome will look the same regardless of the brand. Use the same paint selection process for the interior of your home.
While most paints are the same, you need to cover up some blemishes, consider using a sand paint. The sand paint has tiny grains in it that will conceal imperfections. Also, elastromeric will act as a latex film over top of your work to protect it from damages.
Many people get confused about the differences between varnishes and staining. This is understandable, considering they both do almost the same thing. Both varnishing and staining work to seep into the wood.
The difference between the two is that Stains will almost permanently change the color of the wood as opposed to a normal coat that just covers the surface. Varnishes however, strengthen the already existing color and look and make wood look more vibrant.
Choosing Maryland paints, staining, and varnishes can get pretty confusing. However, if you take the time to learn these techniques and apply them, think of the endless possibilities that are in your grasp. Be sure to take your time, be careful, and your friends and family will approve of your job well done.