Phantom Lighting System

The best art should be shown in the best possible art light. While, lighting your artwork may present a challenge at first because there are so many art lighting fixtures and lamps for you to choose from, a basic understanding of the elements essential to high-end artwork and picture lighting will help you quickly narrow down your choices to a select few fixtures that embody several, or even all, of the elements that characterize the best lighting for art.

The Light Must Strike The Art at Exactly The Right Angle.
In order to understand just how critical angles are to lighting art, try the following experiment: Stand in front of any mirror in your home with a small flashlight and shine the flashlight directly into the mirror. You will instantly be struck by a bright, direct reflection, as the mirror actually magnifies the beam by scattering the photons when it reflects them back into your eyes.

Now, move to different angles, moving the flashlight in the process. When you can clearly see your own form without being blinding by the reflection of the flashlight, you have found be best angle for lighting yourself in the mirror.

The same accent lighting tools are used by designers to position fixtures at the best angles for lighting art. Any surface reflects light to some extent, and while it may not be as intense as a reflection in a mirror, it will nonetheless cause discomfort to viewers. This is especially the case when lighting high-end photography. Photographs have glossy surfaces and are often enclosed in glass frames. The best lighting angle for these forms of art is generally from a recessed position or track lighting installation. This causes the majority of reflected light to angle downward to the floor.

Invest in Low Voltage Equipment.
Low voltage fixtures more often than not provide the best lighting for artwork in museums and galleries. This is because of to several reasons. The first is cost. Low voltage lights consume far less power and can be left on for longer periods of time without exorbitant electricity bills. Low voltage lights also produce a less glaring luminance that is more radiant and ambient. It very difficult to achieve soft picture lighting or lighted from within special effects with line voltage equipment simply because there is too much luminance output striking the piece.

Finally, low-voltage lights are lower wattage and operate at lower temperatures than line voltage lights. This is another reason low-voltage fixtures tend typically produce the best lighting for art because they emit little if any forward throw heat that can dry out paints and cause them to crack over time.

Dimmable Fixtures Give You Greater Lighting Control.
Dimmable fixtures are generally the best art light to use in any display or exhibition. Each work of art is unique and conveys its own message through a subtle interplay of colors and the contrast between light and shadow. A fixed beam of bright light will either overemphasize light or dark elements or certain colors, or, even worse, throw reflected light back into the eyes. Dimmable accent lighting fixtures give you ultimate control over luminance levels so you can achieve the best results when lighting your art. Dimmer controls should always be easy to operate and allow you to make quick adjustments.

Make certain you invest in UV-filters or fixtures designed to filter UV light.
UV radiation is even more deadly to artwork than it is to human skin. It must be eliminated from any source of lighting, or your best art will soon deteriorate and be permanently lost to time. Almost all artwork lighting fixtures are equipped with some sort of mechanism to minimize UV output. However, the best art in your collection cannot afford any exposure to UV light and require the most sophisticated filtration technology possible to protect their integrity and beauty.

Phantom Contour Art Projectors Combine All of These Characteristics Into a Single Design.
Phantom projectors embody all the attributes that characterize the world’s best lights for art. They are low profile, low voltage light sources that conserve power, are extremely cost effective, and easy to angle and adjust. A Contour Projector install on the ceiling can be adjusted to fit the dimensions of a painting, photograph, or sculpture and produce illumination that appears to be more like an “aura” around the piece than a beam of light shooting toward it. We call this “the lighted from within” effect.

Phantom optical projector lights are simple to use and allow you to dim or raise lighting levels at will. The proprietary optical lens design also allows you to fit the beam to the dimensions of any work of art on display. Few people who visit your collection will ever see a Phantom projector, however, because it is smaller than competing models and hides itself either in or on the ceiling to angle an invisible beam of light downward onto the artwork which becomes visible only when it strikes the surface.

Most importantly, Phantom Contour projectors feature patented, sophisticated UV filters that completely strip the light of all ultraviolet radiation so it can safely light your best art with no negative effects resulting. Everyone from private collectors, commercial clients, and professional galleries can benefit from a Phantom Contour Projector, and they can also choose from any of six models that are specifically designed for different environments. A Phantom lighting agent can help you determine which model will work best for your art lighting needs.

A Toll-Free call to 1-800-863-1184 will connect you now with customer service to schedule a free consultation. We invite you to view our client image gallery or visit our art lighting blog.

I am often asked what is the main difference between a Wendelighting® optical projector and a Contour projector? The answer is quite simple - new halogen lamp technology, precision optics, user friendly housings and multiple confinement masking methods.

Low Voltage Halogen Lamp Technology

The Contour projector utilizes a special Ushio 75MR16/FO lamp that was originally designed for use in fiberoptic light engines. The optical engineers at Phantom Lighting Systems devised a way to harness the power of this lamp, condense the light and project a focused light beam which can be shaped to illuminate objects of art.

The optical chamber on the Contour projector has been cleverly designed to include an aperture component as well as several Pyrex condensing lenses. The aperture mimics the characteristics of the fiberoptic light engine, by forcing the light through a defined area which is tuned to match the MR16 lamp. The result is a 70% pass through of light. Imagine, more light output with less heat.

User Friendly Housings

Probably the biggest difference between the Contour projector and the Wendelighting® optical projector is the user friendly mounting methods and multiple masking methods. A variety of ETL Approved housings have been created to handle just about any situation or room condition:

Float Finish Housing
Top Access Housing
New construction Housing
Remodel Housing

Multiple Confinement Masking Methods

Gone are the days of the technician flying in to meticuously install a picture framing lights. Now professional results can be achieved by anyone who can follow our detailed instructions. If you are illuminating a square or rectangular work of art, use the shutter system for a fantastic results. If multiple objects, large objects or 3D objects is the task at hand, use our hand cut template method to achieve dramatic results. Our template cutting instructions will guide you through the process.

What do you think?
You be the judge. See for yourself just how effective a Contour projector can be. Contact Us at 800-863-1184 or one of our lighting sales reps for more information or a demonstration on what Phantom Lighting can do you!

WENDELIGHTING® is a registered trademark of Jacksen International, LTD.