ArtPage on Color Temperature

color temperature - Important in color photography, the color temperature of a source of light is measured in kelvin units in order to match it to the appropriate film, sometimes using filters, some of which are assigned what are called decamired values. Kelvin units are often referred to by their abbreviation K.

Here are the color temperature of common light sources:

light source	color temperature	approximate decamired value
overcast sky	6700-7000 K	15
electronic flash	6200-6800 K	16-15
hazy sunlight	5800 K	17
average daylight	5500-6000 K	18-17
morning or afternoon sunlight	5000-5500 K	19
500-watt amateur photoflood lamps	3400 K	29
500-watt studioflood lamps	3200 K	31
100-watt general-service lightbulb	2900K	35