Correlated color temperature (CCT) is a one-dimensional metric that aims to quantify the perceived visual quality of nominal white light sources. It is often used as a proxy for the color quality of light sources due to its ease of use. However, CCT lacks the accuracy in communicating color information for research purposes. Two light sources with identical CCTs can appear perceptually different, and these differences are not estimated by CCT due to the loss of information caused by reducing spectral power distribution of light sources into a one-dimensional metric. Using supplemental metrics in addition to CCT, providing the absolute spectral power distribution of light sources in graphical and tabular form, and documenting and accounting for potential confounding factors, such as chromatic adaptation, can increase the validity of research results, improve the repeatability of studies, and help address replication concerns.

Light is needed to appreciate artwork, but visible radiation causes damage by photochemical action. Photons trigger photochemical action only when they are absorbed by the object. Damage to sensitive materials can be reduced by optimizing the spectrum of a light source to the reflectance factor of a museum artifact. Absorption minimization approaches can be utilized to quantify and optimize typically conflicting parameters, such as damage due to light absorption, color quality of artwork, and energy consumption. In this project, seven narrowband light emitting diodes (LEDs) are optimized using a multi-objective genetic algorithm to reduce light absorption and energy consumption, while maintaining the color appearance of five paints (blue, green, yellow, orange, red). Results indicate that optimized test spectra can reduce light absorption between 18% and 48%, without causing perceptible color or hue shifts in the paintings. Parallel to absorption, energy consumption is almost halved for all of the paints (between 42% and 48%). Optimizing the light source spectrum can aid in conservation of art collections in museums by reducing damage caused by optical radiation while preserving color fidelity.

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This article explores the best practices for conducting psychophysical experiments that investigate how colour rendition influences the perception of architectural environments. We offer guidance that covers all stages of research from preliminary development to publication, focusing especially on experiments that investigate qualities such as perceived naturalness, vividness, preference or acceptability in response to changes in the spectral power distribution of light sources. This article is intended to be a consolidated guide for researchers and reviewers of this type of research. Key recommendations include: (1) New work should be motivated by clearly expressed research questions and, when possible, explicit hypotheses that build on the existing body of knowledge, (2) visual stimuli comprising spectral power distributions and visual targets should be deliberately engineered to probe the research questions, (3) experiments should be designed to lessen potential biases, (4) reporting of experimental conditions and statistical analyses should be thorough and (5) Results should be contextual, resisting overgeneralization that cannot be supported by the data. Our motivation is to encourage high-quality research that is credible and discourage poor quality research that slows scientific progress and misuses resources.