What are you lighting? What would a museum’s top conservator recommend as a footcandle lighting level? This handy single-page chart lets you note the material of the object (what is it made of?) and immediately find the light levels the experts agree on that you should use.
Do not have a good light meter? As customer service, NoUVIR buys meters with a remote head to reach into cases, accuracy in fractions at low light levels and has the range to read sunlight at a window. This meter is as good as one of our $800 lab meters. But it is priced at the same cost of meters used by museums, photographers and set directors that produce sloppy readings and are inaccurate below 5 footcandles (50 lux).

What is light? How does it interact with matter? Quantum electrodynamics with quotes and footnotes from top physicists, but QED explained for art majors. This popular scientific paper explains what photons are, how they are born, what happens when they hit matter, how photochemical damage happens…but in easily remembered and in simple terms. Explain the science to anyone from a private collector to a museum donor.

Two, widely-read white papers are combined into a booklet detailing tests results from exposing known fade samples to commonly used light sources. Includes images of raw data. Predict the results of exhibit lighting. Compare different light sources. Pick the least harmful. Applied Reflected Energy Matching Theory improves what people see (presentation) and greatly increases exhibit life (preservation). Peers ran identical tests with same results. Over years NoUVIR and peers continue to test and get the same results.

An easy-to-use, one-page chart compares commonly-used light sources’ damage rates based on ISO Blue Wool Sample data. Quickly rank light sources.

A second easy-to-use, one-page chart compares commonly-used light sources’ damage rates based on colored sample data from blue to green to red. Quickly rank light sources.

Information few people know about LED lights, their characteristics and applications. Written in a news-like style for easy reading in 3 parts. But hard hitting facts hidden by the lighting industry. LED lamps had a 40% profit margin and were heavily lobbied for as other lamps were only 4% profit margin. Today the profit margins have dropped, but the lighting industry is stuck with the legislation. Sometimes LEDs are a good choice. Other times they are a poor choice. Know the facts. Learn more about LEDs than many an expert knows.

A quick, useful definition of ultraviolet light including a working definition of “blue” light that can be used for the correct specifying of lighting for documents. What are the signs of UV damage? Hints for what to look for before the photochemical damage progresses too far.

A quick, useful definition of infrared light. How to check for hidden infrared in light sources. What are the signs of IR damage? What do you observe? Hints for what to look for before the photochemical damage accelerates. Hints for what to look for that indicates photomechanical damage.

A quick overview of how to design using fiber optic lighting. How to tile, light galleries from ceilings, design diadem cases, use proscenium arch cases, light cases with reflex designs, use glazing to bounce light back into a case and work with cases that have shelves. These techniques all work better using NoUVIR fiber optic systems, but can be applied with varying results using any fiber optic lighting system and even some standard light fixtures.

A very brief look at how to install NoUVIR fiber optic lighting. What are the steps? Installation is intuitive, because you can hold a brightly lit luminaire in your hands while adjusting beam sizes and footcandle levels (WYSIWYG). Then screw down the light to install.

Not available. This paper explores how-to specify lighting matched to artifact material types. It adds in a lot of new data on LEDs, OLEDs and PLEDs. This white paper is still being written and is under edit. Review can take several years as others run tests to confirm results.

More than an explanation of mechanically how fiber optic lighting works, this article quickly covers the science of how the electricity is actually turned into light by the device and makes it to the end of the fiber. How are photons made? What is the spectral output of those photons? How does the fiber work? How does it transmit light? What types of fiber are there? What is the UV and IR content? (NoUVIR high-tech fiber optic lighting has no UV and no IR…NoUVIR®.) The article also covers commonly used fiber optic lighting terms and discusses how to judge between different fiber optic lighting systems. Packed full of useful information, these fast facts are simply explained, so you can transfer the knowledge into lighting solutions and applications.

Why do you need to compare light sources? What are the criteria? Here are lighting rules written “short and sweet” to help establish exhibit policy.

This is not a scientific discussion, but photographs of a beautiful, complex-color seascape painting lit over and over again as an example with comments comparing lighting sources and color. See the side-by-side comparisons of color and detail. The difference in what you see or don’t see depending upon the light will amaze you.

This is a pdf version of the web site pages dealing with comparisons of lighting installations. See the difference of “before” and “after” installation. Read about the experiences of clients using NoUVIR fiber optic lighting.

More than an explanation of mechanically how a tungsten filament lightbulb works, this article includes the science of how the electricity is turned into light. This is the quantum electrodynamics science that is hard to impossible to find in a web search. How are photons made by the lamp? What is the spectral output? Have more questions about photons? See “What is light” on the home page and the white paper, “Light and Matter: the Dangerous Romance”, at the beginning of this list.

Not a repeat of how halogen tungsten lamps work, this is the explanation of mechanically how a tungsten halogen lamp applies to fiber optic lighting. This article includes the science. What is unique about a halogen lamp? Why use it for fiber optic lighting?

More than an explanation of mechanically how a fluorescent lamp works, this article includes the science of how the electricity is turned into light. How are photons made? What is the spectral output? What is the UV and IR content? Where is the UV more intense and why? What is the presentation (how things look)? What are the differences in fluorescent lamps and why do they perform in such different ways? What has happened to the color rendition of these lamps from 1970 to 1990 to 2020? How are fluorescents changing?

Lots of data! A very extensive look at how LEDs work, the differences in performance, how RGB LED lamps work, how OLEDs work and even PLEDs. More than an explanation of mechanically how a light emitting diode (LED) produces light, this article also includes the science of how the electricity is turned into light. How are photons made? What is the spectral output? What is the UV and IR content? What is the difference between a LED light and a RGB LED light? What is an OLED lamp and how does it work like a LED and not work like a LED? What is the presentation (how things look)? What is the damage rate (how things are harmed)? What is a LEDs actual lamp life and why is it decreasing? When are LED lamps environmentally green and practical? When are they a marginal choice? When are they a bad choice? How do LED lamps fail? What is the future?

There is so much confusion about LED lamp life, this is a two-page excerpt from the above article showing the spectral distribution charts. Do not miss reading the complete article on how a LED works. The physics will open your eyes.

First you have to know how a LED actually works. Not what you read on the internet or are taught in a class, but really how a LED makes light. Then you can understand RGB and how these colors mix in both LEDs, OLEDs and PLEDs. So this link takes you to the above paper that covers the complete subject.

Log from case using an AIR-SAFE™ micro-control system for a founding document. Typical results in a museum environment. System also tested and works in hostile environments like casinos and restaurants.

From the book, Protecting Museum Exhibits from Their Environments (And Vice Versa), a handy check list for comparing fiber optic lighting systems. For example, is it safe and listed for the application? Is the lamp easy to change? Is it an inexpensive and available lamp or a specialty lamp with a high cost? Here are things to consider before you specify or buy fiber optic lighting.

From the book, Protecting Museum Exhibits from Their Environments (And Vice Versa), a quick overview of optical fiber. Fiber is manufactured for different uses. What are the three different materials? How does what the fiber is made of impact how it works in visible lighting applications? This is a handy guide in fiber basics.

From the book, Protecting Museum Exhibits from Their Environments (And Vice Versa), How is temperature tied to protecting and preserving a collection? What do you need to know? How is temperature in a museum tied to lighting and humidity?

From the book, Protecting Museum Exhibits from Their Environments (And Vice Versa), is a clean and simple explanation of humidity. How is humidity tied to protecting and preserving a collection? What do you need to know? How is relative humidity in a museum connected to choice in lighting? How is humidity part of the equation for temperature, pollution and even infestation in a museum?

What color is what humidity? This handy chart lets you tell. Print it out and never guess pdf 36 again. This article reprints the results of color silica relative humidity tests. Have a marginal printer. Contact NouVIR and we will send you a professionally printed chart.

From the book, Protecting Museum Exhibits from Their Environments (And Vice Versa), is an important look at pollution’s impact on artifacts. Pollution is more dangerous in a museum environment or even a fine home than you realize. What is the pollution you should be aware of for protecting a major collection? What do you need to know? How can you protect a collection from pollution? For example, did you know Native American moccasins will accumulate 1% of their weight in acid every single year if on exhibit in an urban museum using lighting other than fiber optic and not being protected by a micro-climate control?

From the book, Protecting Museum Exhibits from Their Environments (And Vice Versa), an overview of museum environments and a summary of different light sources.

This very popular paper is now published on the web. Here are the things you need to know about museum lighting - pure and simple.

Not a popular subject in museum circles, but it is important to talk money. What is the hidden cost of not fully investing in museum-quality lighting? Here are two quick-read case studies.

A list of resources and references. But do not miss the NoUVIR catalog.