Light Setup Calculator — Workbench Illumination

These targets follow CIBSE recommended task levels. For general assembly, 500 lux is adequate. For painting and colour matching, aim for 750-1000 lux (the CIBSE fine-bench/colour-matching band). For very fine detail work and photography, 1000+ lux is ideal. Most people underlight their workspace — brighter is almost always better for modelling.

No — treat it as the minimum light required at the work surface (incident lumens on the bench), not the rated output to buy. A real lamp loses light to distance, spill and beam spread (utilisation factor ≈ 0.4-0.8) and dims over its life (maintenance factor ≈ 0.7-0.85), so the full lighting-design formula is Lumens = Area × Lux ÷ (utilisation × maintenance). In practice, buy a lamp rated roughly 1.5-3× this minimum so the bench still gets enough light after losses, and prioritise a high CRI (90+) daylight LED.

Use 5000K (daylight) for painting and colour matching — it shows true colours. Warm white (2700-3000K) is comfortable but distorts colour perception. Some modellers use adjustable colour temperature lamps to switch between tasks.

Place the main light slightly above and to the left (if right-handed) to avoid shadows from your hands. A second light from the right fills shadows. Avoid placing lights directly overhead as this creates glare. Adjustable arm lamps offer the most flexibility.

LED is now the clear winner. Modern LED desk lamps and panels offer high CRI (Colour Rendering Index), adjustable brightness, low heat, and long life. Look for CRI 90+ for colour-critical work. Avoid cheap LEDs with low CRI.