A portable barbecue light, the perfect companion for grilling burgers and brats this summer.

LED deck lights, to show off the freshly-cut grass and make the patio more of a hang-out spot. Bonus: They’re battery-operated, so installation is a breeze.

An LED head work light, to inspire the outdoor adventurer in him.

An all-in-one flashlight, complete with an AM/FM/Weatherband radio, an emergency siren, a hand crank to charge manually, and glow in the dark functionality. To fulfill his “always be prepared” mantra.

A contemporary banker’s desk lamp, to make his home office feel like a swanky boardroom.

What are you getting your dad this Father’s Day?

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Did you know May is National Remodeling Month? Must have something to do with the after effects of spring cleaning. Are you inspired to start a home project? Here’s the latest and greatest in lighting:

In lighting news … 

We’re in the midst of a revolution, according to the Washington Post. A light bulb revolution, that is. This post is a great overview of the new legislation that is changing the lighting market, addressing concerns such as mercury content, cost & environmental impact of manufacturing efficient light bulbs, and LED sticker shock.

TED Magazine published a fantastic post on lighting by the numbers, using the Department of Energy’s latest statistics to take a closer look at electricity consumption categorized by light source. The main takeaway: Adoption of efficient lighting in the U.S. has grown substantially over the past ten years. However, the number of lamps we are using has increased by more than 1 billion – due to an increase in the number of households.

In lighting tips …

Here’s an interesting new interior design strategy: Think vertically. According to kitchen and bath designer Matthew Quinn, adding vertical lines to a room (through curtains that go all the way to the ceiling, subway titles turned vertically, painted stripes on the wall, etc.) will make a small space feel bigger. All designers employ this trick – here’s a crash course to use it in your own home.

Other cool sites …

Apartment Therapy published a post on 10 Unexpected Household Uses for LED Lighting, which is where the photo of LED placemats above came from. Also in the article are animal harnesses, umbrellas, faucets, and skateboards. Who knew?

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.

In paintings, the depiction of light can create tangible shape, intricate texture and vibrant color. Great painters like Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Manet crafted careers out of working with light, while having very few lighting options for inspiration. Here are a few examples of their work, and how each painter might go about achieving the same schemes with modern lighting:

Rembrandt’s “Self Portrait, 1629″

This painting is a perfect example of Rembrandt’s use of chiaroscuro (the contrast between light and shadow). The lighting here is soft, creating a tranquil, romantic look. The shadows are diffused and gentle, used to define the face without being too severe.

If Rembrandt were alive today, he could easily recreate this setting with an incandescent or compact fluorescent light bulb placed high and to the left. He should opt for a lower wattage to achieve that same dim look, and stick with a light temperature of under 3,500K to maintain the warm atmosphere.

Caravaggio’s “Cavadenti”

Caravaggio used a technique called Tenebrism here, a harsher version of chiaroscuro. The stark contrast between light and darkness accentuates the elaborate details of the subjects in the foreground.

Had Caravaggio had access to our own advanced lighting resources, he would have chosen a small, hard light source, placed far in front of the subjects. He’d select one with a warm temperature for the illusion of firelight, and require a higher wattage to achieve the same crisp-looking shadows.

Manet’s “Le Fifre”

The employment of lighting in this Manet painting differs greatly from Rembrandt and Caravaggio. Instead of valuing shadow to illuminate dimension, Manet uses full frontal lighting to emphasize color – bright reds, whites and yellows.

Here in modern times, Manet could recreate this scene with LED lighting to accentuate the vivid hues. He would stick with a cool light source – between 4,000K and 6,000K – to make the colors seemingly glow.

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.

It’s very handy to have a chart that lays out the conversion for you! We shared one by the Federal Trade Commission last June, but it didn’t include examples of efficient light bulbs to replace the incandescent ones. This one, by Lighting Facts, is straightforward and very informative. Enjoy!

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.

The Illuminated Wall Display:

Planning on featuring jewelry within shelving units alongside a wall of your store? It’s a great way to display a large amount of inventory, but it’s important to make sure items don’t get lost in the shadows.

For the most dramatic effect, use puck lights to call attention to individual pieces, as seen in the photo to the right. Puck lighting above jewelry creates beautiful silhouettes and puts a spotlight on each piece.

If you love the look of evenly illuminated in-wall shelving displays, there is a way to avoid the spotlight effect. For a more subtle glow, install light fixtures on the inside edges of your shelves. See these photos for an example of this type of display case installation. You can accomplish this using our Xenon Low Voltage Light Strip or any of our microfluorescent fixtures.

The In-Counter Lit Showcase:

You’re showing off your most valuable items in the counter-style showcase, so it’s important to get the lighting right. However, make sure the actual light fixtures do not become focal points.

With a glass showcase, you need to integrate the lighting so that your display will shine, and so that it’s not blocked in any way by wires or lamp heads. The best way to do this is to install thin lighting strips inside the showcase, just below where the edge of the counter is. You can see an example in the photo to the right.

Our Xenon Low Voltage Light Strip is also fantastic for this application. It’s extremely low-profile, emits gorgeous light with a color rendering index of 100, and is fully dimmable. Also, you can order custom lengths to fit your showcase.

The Enticing Display Window: 

Your window display can be the number one determinant of store traffic. Like the counter showcase, it’s ideal if the light fixtures aren’t visible at all here so that your most alluring items take center stage.

You will likely have wall space to work with on all four sides of the window display, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to align microfluorescent fixtures against the edges for even illumination.

Depending on what types of items you are featuring, you might want to incorporate some spot lighting as well. You could use an adjustable display light, installing it out of sight but focusing the beam exactly where you need it to shine. Another option is to use adjustable recessed lights in the ceiling above the window display.

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.

FX Group also works with theme parks and museums (see their portfolio here) to create experiences that engage audiences through set designs.

We haven’t covered broadcast lighting here on Light Reading much, but it has more in common than you would think with display lighting, under cabinet lighting,  and even bedroom lighting. When you look at a room – whether that’s your own kitchen or the set of your favorite news channel – lighting is rarely the first thing you notice. Instead, you’re checking out the granite countertops in the kitchen, or the furniture in the bedroom, or the newscaster’s wacky new tie.

However, without good lighting, those granite countertops would be duller, the bedroom would seem cold and nondescript, and the newscaster would be ensconced in unflattering shadows.

FX Group’s CEO Mack McLaughlin recently shared a blog post about a new app by ZVORK that enables you to see the effects of various lighting instruments on a person. You can place up to six light fixtures in the scene, control the intensity, add color filters, and more. Here are two screenshots from the application:

Quite a different feel, isn’t it? 

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.

This glowing light will lead the way if you're walking to the car late at night. Plus, it makes finding keys in a bag a breeze!

It’s impossible to anticipate a breakdown or roadside emergency, which is why it’s important to always be prepared. Already equipped with a spare tire, first-aid kit, and jumper cables in the trunk? They might not be of much help if disaster strikes after dark, and you have no viable light source to illuminate the problem.

We recently added a few new products to the website designed for road safety. Our LED Road Flares will keep your stopped car very visible to other drivers: They can be seen from a mile away.

Our LED Trouble Light makes it easy to check under the hood, and it’s a handy tool to keep in your car. With 16 LEDs on the side of the thin wand, a flashlight-style spotlight on the tip, and an integrated laser pointer, it’s definitely a sophisticated flashlight.

Road safety is a serious issue. It’s the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 34. For more products that will keep you safer on the road in the event of an emergency, check out our battery operated lighting page.

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.

Here are a few photos that caught our attention:

Top Row, Left to Right: Retractable Towel Rings by Moen; Image via @HGTV. VibrAcoustic Bath Controls by Kohler; Image via @AptTherapy. Bottom Row, Left to Right: Space Corner Drawers by Blum; Image via bobvila.com. Galley Sink by Roger Shollmier; Image via remodeling.hw.net.

The Retractable Towel Rings by Moen are designed for those who are tired of picking up towels off the bathroom floor. They extend eleven inches, making them perfect for kids reaching up to use a hand towel. Kohler’s VibrAcoustic Bath Controls are pretty incredible. They send sound waves through bath water, using either presets or your own mp3s. This video will have you ready to soak to the music.

Blum’s Space Corner drawers make the most of corner space. Who couldn’t use a little extra storage in the kitchen? The last photo featured is of the Galley Sink by designer Roger Shollmier. It’s a functional work station with tracks alongside the top of the basin where prep accessories can slide. That can include cutting boards, colanders, a drain rack, and stainless bowls – so you can cook, clean, serve, all in one place. Convenience at its best!

Of course, the innovative products not featured here are countless. We heard buzz about faucets that detect body heat to turn on, toilets valued at $6,000, edge-less countertops, and more. What was your favorite product at KBIS?

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.

We are pleased to offer you, our readers, another guest post with great lighting tips for bringing out the best in your bedroom color scheme.

Have you ever noticed how different lighting types affect the color of your room? From the warm colors of the standard incandescent light bulb (which is being phased out) to the cool colors of fluorescent, the type of lighting you select affects your color scheme – for better or for worse. After investing in bedding, drapes, and accessories for your bedroom, don’t make the mistake of overlooking the lighting. Select the wrong lighting and you’ll ruin the mood; select the right lighting and your bedroom’s color scheme will pop!

Warm versus Cool

In general, “warm” light sources bring out the warm colors such as orange, red, and yellow, while “cool” lighting intensifies cool colors such as blue. This concept is referred to as color temperature, which is measured in units called “kelvin” or “K.” For example, warm incandescent light bulbs typically equal about 2,700K, soft white light falls in the 3,000K range, cool white is about 4,100K, and daylight is about 6,500K.

Assessing Your Bedroom’s Color Scheme

Before you select lighting for your bedroom, spend time assessing its color scheme. Is the color scheme warm and loaded with earth tones or is it cool with vibrant colors such as lime green? Once you’ve identified the general color temperature as either warm or cool, you can narrow your focus on suitable lighting options.

Lighting Sources for Warm Hues

If your bedroom’s color scheme consists of warm hues and you want to accentuate those warmer colors, choose a warm lighting source such as incandescent, or a compact fluorescent light bulb with a warm or neutral hue. Stay in the 2,700K to 3,500K color temperature range and enjoy a warm, relaxing environment with rich colors.

Lighting Sources for Cool Hues

If your bedroom’s color scheme features cool, vibrant hues, consider bumping up the color temperature to the 4,000K to 6,000K range. LED lighting is ideal for bringing out the more vibrant colors. These cooler light sources are often described as “natural white” and “daylight white.” Avoid lighting above 6,000K though as it could be too harsh or industrial-looking.

Soft versus Hard

Another consideration when selecting lighting for the bedroom is a choice between soft and hard light. Soft light is diffused and minimizes harsh shadows while hard light can be used strategically to highlight focal points or textures. Consider a mixture of both soft and hard light, but keep the color temperature of all light sources in the bedroom the same.

Dim versus Bright

Next, consider how illumination creates a mood and affects colors. Dim lighting can create a relaxing, intimate effect, though it can cause the room to look duller than it really is. In general, the brighter the light, the brighter the colors. Bright lighting can create a cheery, playful effect, though too much light can wash out the color. If your bedroom features a lot of dark hues, you may need brighter lighting than expected to counter the light-absorbing properties of these darker colors.

Bringing out your bedroom’s color scheme takes careful consideration and the right type of lighting. Determine whether your color scheme is warm or cool and select lighting to match.

This guest post contributed by Marissa, on behalf of Camotrading.com – suppliers of fishing & hunting décor, camouflage bedding, bath décor & rugs.

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.

This is not everyday lighting design. Unless, that is, you’re accustomed to an inspirational light show accompanying your workouts.

The photo to the right is one of British lighting designer Bruce Munro’s latest exhibits. Called Star-Turn, it’s completely interactive with mechanical components powered by bike pedals. As a participant spins the pedals, tealight candles also spin to create spiraling rays of light. The exhibit consumes no electricity at all.

Recently, Star-Turn was used in a fundraiser for Help for Heroes, an organization that aids wounded soldiers in the UK. Munro’s inspiration for the exhibit:

Two years ago I was riding my bicycle in the lanes near my workshop – it’s a very good way to keep fit. But that winter afternoon it was dark and my lights had failed, and I fell off into a ditch full of icy cold cow-poop. As I got to my feet, the idea of cycling in a warm, dry, well-lit environment seemed irresistibly attractive. Almost immediately when I got home I started sketching the Star-Turn bike. - Bruce Munro, “The Inspiration”

We’ve shared Bruce Munro’s incredible work before on our photo blog. To see more, check out his website. Here’s one more photo of the magnificent Star-Turn:

Photos via Discovery Channel.

This informative material has been provided by Pegasus Lighting, a nationally recognized lighting distributor that has been selling unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers since 1993.