Phantom Lighting System

Linear strips provide an ideal source of jewelry display lighting. They offer a concealed physical presence combined with evenly distributed illumination that is excellent for showcasing collections of jewelry laid out on pedestals or cloth backings. Using low voltage cabinet lighting strips in jewelry display cases with mirrored back planes is generally not advised, though, because the mirror will reflect an image of the fixture and reflective glare back into the eyes and distract attention away from the merchandise.

Cabinet strip lights also provide jewelry displays with a versatility of lamping options and light levels that can be fine-tuned to fully accent the visual qualities of both the type and substance of jewelry on display. Different bulbs create different types of light, and the choice of which type of lamp to install in your linear strip depends greatly on the size of your showcase, the type of jewelry you are displaying, and the color of the background you use.

Jewelry display lights require heavy glare shielding that will angle the light toward the merchandise and reflect only enough light back into the eyes to make it sparkle. The remainder of the light should evenly “wash” over the surface of metal and gemstones, showcasing contours, cuts, and any engravings over the surface.

The more three-dimensional its appearance is, the more valuable a piece of jewelry appears to the eye. Too much accent lighting will flatten the appearance of gold, diamonds, and silver pieces by casting startling “white” spots on their surfaces. Too little light, on the other hand, will fail to add the necessary sparkle that is essential to high-ticket merchandising.

For these reasons, it is almost always best to use a low-voltage linear lighting strip that has user-friendly dimmer controls that will allow you to adjust your jewelry display lights to the precise level necessary to showcase a given piece or collection of items. One advantage this offers you is the ability to use the same show case for different pieces on a rotating basis and simply turn the lights up or down when you set up a new display.

Low voltage lighting systems are also a great power saver that help will minimize your overhead. Especially if you are own a small, family store, cost effective lighting can make your facility look high-end and one of a kind without the burden of high expenditures.

As for the actual bulb types used in jewelry display lighting, much of your choice depends on the style and colors of the items on display. Fluorescent lights, long-valued for their power saving value, are used much less than they were in the past. Other forms of low voltage lighting have become competitive with fluorescent in terms of reduced power costs, and these other bulb types tend to produce better types of lighting as well. High-ticket merchandise generally requires a light source more appropriate to its dimensions and color than fluorescent is normally able to deliver.

Pearls, silver, and light colored jewelry such as opal look exquisite under incandescent lamps that bring out the whites, off whites, and the glint of 14K gold. For warmer colors like those seen in an emerald or sapphire, a more robust light source makes for an even better source of jewelry display lighting. Either low voltage xenon lighting, which cast something of a “golden” aura around the subject, or specialty LED strip lights available in a multitude of colors will enhance both the darker colors and multi-dimensional appearance of exquisitely cut, rare jewelry.

Phantom display light strips feature all the necessary technical elements required for optimal jewelry display lighting, and they also provide the added benefit of customization. Phantom custom-manufacturers each individual lighting strip precisely to the dimensions of your jewelry display, and your Phantom Lighting Agent works with you to determine which bulb type(s) will be most effective for specific showcases.

Phantom lighting strips are low-voltage and fully dimmable, and they come in six different series models. Each series features patented glare shielding and proprietary lamping designs that creates a bright, yet soft field of light with minimal reflection but just enough shine to precious metals and gemstones sparkle.

Our US lighting agents work with retail managers, distributors and lighting consultants to help them choose both the series type and appropriate bulb types essential tor high-end jewelry display lighting. Agents work throughout North, Central, and South America and offer their consultations as a courtesy to our clients.

Contact us Toll-Free 1-800-863-1184 to speak to an Agent now about your retail, display, and jewelry showcase lighting needs. We invite you to request literature or visit our lighting blog to learn more about Phantom custom low voltage lighting products.

What is the most difficult aspect of curio cabinet lighting?
When lighting curio cabinets with mirrored back panes the biggest problem is reflective glare.

This is an almost unavoidable disadvantage when lighting a display cabinet in front of a mirror of any type.

For lighting curio cabinets made from solid wood, the problem is shadows and uneven distribution of light.

This is why some of these showcase cabinets have two or more light fixtures to light the objects from multiple angles. The disadvantage here, though, is that too many lights creates “fixture clutter” that diminishes presentation.

What about these lights that come pre-installed in some curio cabinets?
Honestly, they are not a bad way of lighting a curio cabinet, provided that it is a standing wall cabinet of larger than average size, and provided that the shelves are made of glass. Light passes downward through the shelves and reflects off the mirror, wrapping itself around the collection in the process. However, there will still be reflective glare from certain viewing angles such as couches and chairs near the display.

In a wall curio cabinet made from dark, solid wood, glass shelves will allow overhead light to pass all the way to the cabinet floor without the nuisance of reflective glare. However each object casts a shadow that requires either multiple fixtures top-mounted fixture or some sort of alternative, secondary source of lighting for the curio cabinet.

This is where Phantom under cabinet lighting fixtures can prove invaluable tools to truly impeccable presentation.

OK, so how do Phantom linear strip lights overcome these obstacles?
If the cabinet is made of wood, there is a great deal of creative freedom and flexibility you can apply to either supplementing in cabinet lights or using Phantom LED strips as the primary source of curio lighting. Cabinets made of wood will accommodate up to three major Phantom Strip Series, all of which are designed to remain concealed from viewing angles.

Click here to read in detail how these strips can mount to vertical, horizontal, and even curved surfaces.

Furthermore, in spite of the nuisance of reflective glare, Phantom HM series make for some of the best curio cabinet lights you can use for wall-mounted display cases. Whereas mirror panels in larger cabinets may actually show reflections of the linear lighting strips themselves to seated guests, wall mounted cabinets feature more narrow surface depth that actually helps create the optical illusion that the lighting strips are actually built into the top of the cabinet.

What bulb types are the best choices for curio cabinets?
Phantom Lighting manufactures strip lights with incandescent, xenon, or led bulbs, each of which offers unique advantages to the specific type of curio cabinet they light and the nature of the collectibles on display. Wooden curio cabinets with no interior mirrors need the brightest illumination possible, so we generally recommend xenon low voltage bulbs that are renowned for producing the whitest light. You can set the dimmer switch to a higher setting when guest are active throughout the home, then turn the lights down to leave them at lower levels once most people have gone to bed. LED lamps will replace xenon lamps as colors improve.

Click here to read more about cost saving benefits with low voltage xenon and new LED Phantom festoon lamps.

In cabinet lights come in two main varieties: puck and linear strips: Puck lights mount in the center of the cabinet’s upper top space and shine illumination downward in a widening, circular spread.

Linear light strips mount either along the back vertical top or bottom wall space, or as in the case of a Phantom strip, along the top-front horizontal cabinet strut. Linear strip lighting in cabinets will cascade and radiate downward, resulting in a gentler and even wash of light that puck lights generally do.

Phantom LED cabinet lighting strips are ideal for all display cabinets with the exception of those with mirrored back planes. They also provide very good task lighting in kitchen cabinets above eye level where the wiring and fixture of puck lights may appear unsightly to visitors opening cabinet doors.

Knowing these basic facts helps one to determine in advance what will work best for a particular purpose, environment, and task. The following examples constitute general guidelines recommended by our US Lighting Agents as helpful points to consider when choosing between fixture types.

Over the Counter Kitchen Cabinets:
Linear in cabinet strip lights are better here for the reasons already mentioned above. A puck light in a kitchen cabinet will instantly stand out to anyone who opens the cabinet. Also, the wires, the fixture, and the more intense concentration of light will also tend to work against the decorative design elements of today’s larger, more hospitality oriented kitchens.

Under counter cabinets:
On the other hand, the opposite is usually true with larger kitchen cabinets near the floor where pots and pans are stored. Puck lights in these cabinets remain hidden from normal view, and the more intense output they produce makes it easier to find utensils and cookware more quickly.

Fine Antique and Curio Cabinets:
Linear strip lights in cabinets are almost always superior to puck lights when decorative appeal is the foremost consideration. Linear in cabinet custom lighting strips like the ones we manufacture at Phantom are designed to hide themselves along horizontal or vertical shelf edges. This allows the viewer to better see lighted contents without noticing the fixtures.

Retail Display Cabinets:
Sporting good stores often display guns in cabinets with a red back plane and a glass door that keeps weapons safe under lock and key. You also see similar cases also used to display expensive diamonds and gemstones. Cabinet lights in these environments need to be as sophisticated and as low profile as possible to not only showcase the value of expensive merchandise, but to also emphasize higher price points with a truly complimentary, luxury lighting fixture.

Linear strips with LED or low voltage xenon lamps are good choices for doing this much more effectively than puck lights.

Understanding the three basic uses of almost all cabinetry will go a long way toward simplifying the process of choosing the right in cabinet lights. In the most broad and general terms, cabinets are either functional, decorative, or a synthesis of function and display. Lighting in a cabinet should support its general function and compliment its form without visual distraction or physical obstruction. Display lighting in cabinets must also convey an additional decorative element that enhances contents as well as containment. It is necessary to have these basics fixed firmly in mind before trying to make any decisions on what to purchase for your kitchen, bathroom, or antique collectibles, or retail showcase display.

Phantom Lighting in cabinet light strips combine sophisticated decorum with practical energy efficiency and user-friendly installation and adjustment features found nowhere else in the world. Detailed technical documents and informative articles on all six of our strip lighting products can be found throughout our website. You can also call 800-863-1184 for literature or other information about Phantom Lighting.

In spite of the superior decorative appeal and lighting control that newer forms of under cabinet lights offer, fluorescent bulbs to this day remain the very best sources of light in work areas where very bright light is needed for maximum productivity and safety.

They offer a unique combination of high light output levels and relatively low electrical consumption. As such, they are very cost effective for industrial clients operating on a tight budget.

Most factories are very large and are lit by large overhead metal halide or fluorescent lights provided by commercial lighting manufacturers. The height of the ceiling and the cubic square footage of the facility (known as the vertical cube) have a tendency to diminishing even the brightest illumination as it comes down from the ceiling. The higher the ceiling, the dimmer the light tends to be. Also, higher ceilings also allow more opportunity for obstructions to block light altogether in certain parts of the room.

Any piece of equipment, rafter, or storage rack can cast shadows over assembly lines and highly skilled work areas. This creates more than an annoyance—it creates a work hazard and potential liability for the company.

Because these areas often contain storage cabinets above workspace, installing fluorescent under cabinet lights offsets diminished and blocked overhead lighting and allows workers to see clearly without hurting themselves or making mistakes.

Does Phantom Make Fluorescent Strip Lights?
No, but as a conscientious lighting manufacturer with a strong emphasis on consulting, we always seek to educate our clients in what their best options are. Generally, we tend to steer people away from using fluorescent under cabinet display lighting in kitchens within the home. Other types lamps provide a more aesthetically balanced and comfortable level of light that blends better with kitchen, living room, fine art, and bathroom lighting design.

However, homes are not the only places where you find kitchens and kitchenettes. Construction trailers, factories, warehouses, RV’s, camping trailers, and modular buildings often use food preparation areas to provide people in these facilities with the option of dining in and saving money. Many such kitchens, although in small buildings, have a high level of sunlight coming in through large windows that can cast shadows over counter tops. Fluorescent under cabinet lights are ideal for settings such as this because their higher lumens output overcomes shadows very effectively and also blends well with the natural brilliance of sunlight.

Are there any places residential environments where fluorescent under the cabinet lights still offer better lighting?
Yes. In tool sheds and work benches on porches where overhead cabinets contain tools or raw materials, placing a puck light, low voltage festoon light or linear fluorescent strip above the bench is the best way to clearly illuminate the surface of the work area…especially when working with power tools at dusk, in shaded areas, and especially after sunset.

Under cabinet fluorescent fixtures also work very well in laundry rooms and utility rooms where decorum is not an issue, and when activity within the room may occur at any hour of the day or night?

Is there any decorative use for fluorescent under the cabinet lighting?
Jewelry stores often use showcase lighting for diamonds and other gemstones in glass cases lit bit specialty under cabinet fluorescent lighting. This helps merchandise the jewelry more effectively by causing it to sparkle.

Too much sparkle, however, can create glare, which is why many stores are now choosing to use Phantom LED display lighting, which uses even less power than fluorescent lamps and creates a glare free sparkle that also can be “colored” for special effects with different types of LED light bulbs.

Visit our lighting blog to read more about other lamping technologies that offer cabinet lighting levels complimentary to both task and function in areas that do not require fluorescent as an absolute must for clear visibility and safe activity.