Using Light in Displays

Single Artifact - When lighting a single artifact you want to have a sharp focused light without shadows.  A shadow will distort the appearance of the artifact.  To eliminate shadows the light source should be above the artifact and coming from two different sources.  Both lights should be set 6-8 inches in front of and 6-8 inches evenly spaced on both sides of the artifact.  To focus the light onto the artifact with very little light seeping away you should use a light set back in a cylinder, or a light that will focus on a specific spot.  You can get lights that are made to focus on a specific spot at most hardware stores.      Multiple Artifacts -  When you have set your display up with multiple artifacts, focusing the light on a single artifact will detract from the rest of the artifacts in the display.  For this reason all the artifacts should be lit up evenly.  This can be done two ways;          Multiple Single Artifacts - This method is used when you space the artifacts out on the same shelf and focus light upon them as a single artifact.  This way each artifact is seen as a single artifact and not as a piece of a larger collection.  This works best if each artifact displayed is a perfect artifact and does not need other artifacts to bring out the beauty in it.         Multiple collection of Artifacts -  Every artifact is beautiful if for no other reason that what it is.  These are old magnificent pieces, but they are old and therefor, not every piece is perfect.  These pieces may need the help of other artifacts within a display.  These should be displayed as a collection and not as a single artifact.  Lighting should be broad and cover the entire collection.  This will give it a sense of a single great display.  Multiple lights should be placed 6-8 inches in front of the artifacts.  Lights should be placed evenly along the display and on the ends of the display.  This will make the light even and will reduce shadows.  By putting the lights in front of the artifact the shadows will be cast behind the artifacts where people will not see them. Navigational links; Back to Tips Page Main Page

Using light in a display is a great way to focus a persons attention on a specific artifact.  A great example would be if you had a pot or bowl on a book shelf and   you wanted that piece noticed before anything else.  By focusing light on that artifact the eye would naturally be drawn to the artifact.       If you had several artifacts on the same shelf and you wanted people to notice the complete collection of artifacts then a single focused light may not be the best way to go.       Here are some general rules on lighting:     Light Color - When it comes to displaying artifacts light color can change the whole look of the display.  When I'm talking color I'm not referring to blue, red, or orange lights, i'm talking about the white light from a flourescent light or the yellow of a light bulb.          White Light - This is a great light to reduce shadows and light every artifact within a display.  This is not a light you can focus on a single artifact.  This light looks very utilitarian.  It is not a light that gives a sense of class or prestige.  This is the kind of light you would expect to see in a museum with many artifacts placed into a large glass case.  If this is the look you are striving for then white light is a  light source you should use.          Yellow Light - This is the light that is given off by a soft light bulb.  It is very bad for casting shadows, but is very easy to focus on a specific spot.  This is a great light source for both single artifact displays and multiple artifact displays.  Yellow light gives the display a sense of class and prestige.  It is the kind of light you would expect to see in a private artifact display within a wooden shelf.  If this is the type of look you are striving for then a yellow light source is the type you should use.