Full Spectrum LED Lighting in Retail Industry and Fresh Food Lighting

Aside from the term “human-centric lighting” and “blue free lighting“, full spectrum LED lighting has become one of the newest and most popular trends in LED lighting. So what is full spectrum LED lighting?

Well, from what manufactures and studies claim, full spectrum LED lights:

• Resemble natural daylight

• Renders the ‘real colors’ of items

• Diminishes eyestrain, glare, and fatigue

• Highlights the natural details and colors

• Improves work environments

• Brings in the natural light to interior spaces

• Increase retail product sales

The advertised benefits of full spectrum LED lights

In all honesty, the majority of full spectrum LED lighting claims come from the marketing departments of manufacturers. No actual studies have been performed that can link many of the claims to actual facts.

In reality, the lighting experience that you will encounter from full spectrum LED lighting is truly similar to viewing natural daylight. When you properly design and deploy full spectrum LED lights you can properly highlight the natural colors of a space or product while bringing a more natural illumination to a room.

Defining Full Spectrum LED lights

There is no standardized metric for measuring “full spectrum,” which can make comparing different products difficult.

The best approximation of spectrum fullness is the Color Rendering Index (CRI) along with color temperature (CCT). CRI measures the ability of a light source to bring out the true colors of an object, and indicates a light spectrum’s similarity to natural light sources.

Truly full spectrum light sources, by virtue of being similar to natural daylight, must have a very high CRI and color temperature between 4000K and 6500K to be considered a true, full spectrum light source.

SignliteLED’s ABSOLUTE SERIES LED lights have up to 99 CRI (Ra). This means that our lights are virtually indistinguishable from daylight.

The lighting that is emitted from full-spectrum LED lights you will experience a more natural, ‘real-life’ viewing experience. This brings a multitude of benefits to the area/product.

Full-spectrum LED lights are very good for:

Fresh food lighting, in particular fruit and vegetables

Retail: fashion (clothes), fitting rooms, and shoes

And now the details…

Fresh food LED lighting

Full-spectrum LED lighting brings all colors to the same glance as natural sunlight. Some sources also say lights with CRI rating of 90+ can be described as full-spectrum LED lighting. But in reality, it is not the same.

The CRI index compares light with the “original” defined light source (incandescent bulbs, halogen light), but does not look/compare on a similar-to-sunlight light spectrum. However, with full-spectrum LED lighting, they come very close to the natural sunlight light spectrum.

In the diagram above you will see a light comparison of LED light vs sunlight. With traditional LED lights you achieve a peak mixture of red, green, and green light that appears white light. With sunlight, the light spectrum features a linear curve of light distribution. In the world of LED lighting, we call this full-spectrum LED lighting. This form of LED lighting is used to properly highlight and bring out the true natural colors of clothes, fresh food, and other products.

Mental health effects of full-spectrum LED lighting

Have you noticed that the average person prefers natural sunlight from windows as opposed to artificial lighting? This is because natural daylight aids in improving moods, feelings, and the overall attitude of a person.

Since full-spectrum LED lights generates a bright bluish-white light that organically resembles daylight people immediately associate the color with daylight. This sub-conscious connection to the natural daylight generates the same positive effects of natural daylight.

For individuals that suffer from seasonal affective disorder, doctors recommend ‘full-spectrum light therapy’. This treatment typically lasts 30-minutes and submits the individual to direct exposure to 10,000 lux. This form of therapy has a direct impact on improving the moods and depression levels of individuals. Full-spectrum LED lights with 5000K or more meet the same standard of full light therapy.

Art and color matching

Ideally, during the day, an art studio (in the northern hemisphere) should be lit with northern sunlight, because it is considered more neutral and diffused than the direct, “yellowish” quality of southern sunlight. Since many artists’ studios lack north-facing windows, full-spectrum lamps are sometimes used to approximate such light. Full-spectrum fluorescent lamps are also used by color scientists, color matchers in paint stores and quilters and others working with fabrics or yarn when working under inadequate lighting conditions to assist in achieving the correct hues as they will later appear in daylight or under gallery lighting.

Compared with full-spectrum LED lamps, we recommend using high-color rendering index RA 90 or RA 95 LED strip products for daily retail lighting, shelf lighting and residential lighting etc. It has higher cost-effectiveness and practicality when it is closer to full-spectrum lamps. Below are the recommended linear lighting products for installation light strips and aluminum profiles:

The UV Emission Question

One common question regarding full spectrum LED lights is whether they emit ultraviolet (UV) light. While traditional incandescent and fluorescent lights can produce UV radiation, full spectrum LED lights typically emit very low levels of UV light.

This makes them a safer option for indoor use, especially in spaces where prolonged exposure to light is common. Premier Lighting ensures that our full spectrum LED lights are designed with safety in mind, providing illumination without the harmful effects associated with higher UV emissions.

Normal LED and Full Spectrum LED Comparison

To make you clear about the two types of LEDs, the chart below would add a significant contribution to your knowledge.

	Normal LED	Full-Spectrum
Light Quality And Spectrum.	An efficient light source that delivers the light of visible color.	A light spectrum with energy ranging from ultraviolet to infrared closely replicates the spectral distribution of sunlight. This light source generally appears white. Due to wavelength similarity with natural light, its color rendering and accuracy are closer to 100.
Energy Efficiency And Consumption.	LEDs use about 75% less energy than halogen light bulbs and last 5 to 10 times longer. It measures an average efficacy of 60 expanding up to 80 for new LED technologies.	Studies report that full-spectrum grow lights indicate a 20-30% increase in photosynthetic efficiency compared to traditional lighting sources
Cost-Effectiveness And Market Availability.	They‘re highly cost-effective and you may find them at every light store due to their high demand and wider application.	They‘re expensive but tend to have a significantly longer lifespan, up to 1000,000 hours or more, reducing the need for frequent replacements and servicing. Finding full-spectrum LED is a struggle. With wide applicability, many manufacturers are seeking ways to bring it.
Suitability For Different Environments And Tasks.	Appropriate for basic home lighting, TV backlighting, Smartphone lighting, and camera flashes. Good to be used for commercial settings such as streetlights, art galleries, and theatres.	Suitable for indoor plants to yield high-quality, nutrient-filLED crops all year round, regardless of external weather conditions. Improved aesthetics and offer a more natural and realistic view of objects.

Ready to experience the vibrant clarity of full spectrum LED lighting? Whether enhancing retail displays, boosting well-being, or perfecting art and design, these lights bring the sun’s brilliance indoors. Explore Signlite’s ABSOLUTE SERIES and high-CRI solutions to transform your space with energy-efficient, daylight-mimicking technology. Thank you for joining us on this illuminating journey—here’s to brighter moods, truer colors, and spaces that inspire. Let’s light up your world together!