Colour fidelity for picture gallery illumination, Part 2: Test sample selection – museum tests

An earlier paper has described a new method to optimise the spectral power distribution of solid state lighting systems used in museums. This paper will discuss the question of the selection of the test samples used for the spectral power distribution optimisation for the illumination of renaissance paintings. For fine tuning the spectrum the help of museum curators was needed, who remember the appearance of the pictures under traditional light sources and who were able to advise lighting engineers to tune the spectrum to obtain a pleasing appearance. The paper will show the results obtained by testing the optimum spectrum in the museum. Part 1 of the present publication dealt with a new method to optimise the spectral power distribution of Solid State Lighting systems used in museums. Part 2 will discuss the question of test samples for the illumination of renaissance paintings and will show results obtained by testing the optimum spectrum in the museum.