Enter a value in any of the boxes, and the corresponding equivalents will be displayed.

If you're wondering how hot a filament needs to get to produce light, color temperature is based on the relationship between temperature and radiation emitted by a hypothetical black body radiator.

As the temperature of this body is lowered, molecular activity diminishes. When all activity stops, the temperature of this theoretical object is " absolute zero" or 0 degrees Kelvin (° K), which is also equal to -273° Centigrade.

Ok...let's skip ahead... if the black body is then heated to a certian point, it will begin to glow and give off its own light.

As it relates to fiber optic light sources, most lamps contain tungsten filament in Quartz Halogen envelope. Because the tungsten behaves similar to the theoretical black body, as it heats up, it begins to produce light. When the filament reaches 2927°C,or 5300°F, or 3200°K we're in business!

Now that you know how hot the filament is, If you're looking for information regarding color filter selection, click here to be redirected to a great reference site that explains it all, and offers a calculator to help you make your selection.

If you'd like to download the Excel spreadsheet version of this calculator, click here.