I like 3000k in full darkness, 4500k when there is ambient light indoors, and if I need to use a light in sunlight 6000k looks brighter and whiter than the other two
here is an auto white balance iPhone photo. Note how orange the 3000k looks, because the phone has set its white balance to the highest color temp in the photo
now look at this pic
note how the Nichia now looks white, instead of Rosy, because the auto white balance was set to it
our brain does the same thing
if we are in a place where ambient light is 6000k, then a 4000k looks orange
but if we are in a place where ambient is 4000k, then 6000k looks too blue
when people say things like, my 6000k light is Pure White, what I hear is that they are using the light at a time when their brain is adapted to 6000k ambient light
since my house lighting is 3000k, I dont like 6000k LEDs in that setting
but if Im in the sun, looking under the car, then I Want 6000k, cause 3000k looks really orange (when my brain auto white balance is set to 6000)
so, in the middle of the night, when I wake to pee, my 3000k does not look orange.. instead my 4500k looks too blue
Color temperature preferences depend on the ambient light and the white balance of the users brain at the time
now look at the tint variation that happens even within a single color temperature (tint lottery)
two different model LEDs
and two XPG LEDs of the same model and batch
and yes, all the 3000-4500k LEDs pictured in this post are rated 90+CRI… the 6000k is 70CRI
Less strain to see stuff...............always welcomed.
