LED lights for Color Therapy
Many questions have come up about LED lights for color therapy:
- Can they be used with the Roscolene filters?
- Can they be used at all?
- Do LED filters require different color gels?
We posed these questions to the Dinshah Health Society and here are their answers:
LEDs are becoming the main light source in many areas. They are quite different from incandescent lights. They have a somewhat different spectrum compared to incandescent bulbs.
Incandescent bulbs all look about the same, but not so with LEDs. LEDs have a complete spectrum but are labeled with a K (Kelvin) number. If you want an LED that looks very much like the old incandescent bulb, you buy one with 2900K or 3000K on it.
As the K numbers go higher the light looks more blue. A 6000K LED looks like skylight.
Due to these differences, LEDs must be used with a different set of filters than those used with incandescent lights. We have matched a set of Supergel filters (Rosco Roscolux) for use with 5500K or 6000K (Kelvin) LEDs.
This is how they are used:
The numbers are: 15, 23, 25, 39, 40, 59, 69, 74, 79, 89, 90, 339, 342, 389
Supergel filters for use with LEDs:
Yellow 15
Green 90
Blue 69, 79
Violet 39, 59
Magenta 40, 59, 342
Lemon 15, 89
Turquoise 79, 389
Indigo 39, 74
Purple 59, 342
Scarlet 40, 339
For information about using incandescent light bulbs, see, The Right Lightbulbs for Dinshah Color Therapy. This article also contains a list of lights not to use.
Distortion
Interestingly, according to Wikipedia, there are varying degrees of distortion with LED lights: “Generally the current waveform contains some amount of distortion, depending on the luminaires’ technology” due to inefficiencies in the circuitry. However, they can still be used, if incandescent lights are not available.
I am Ms. Loke from Singapore, and I would like to purchase a set of Combo B & “Let There Be Light” Books – BESTSELLER from Products On Demand; however, I need your advice before ordering as the set does not include lightbulbs.
How can I obtain the “Supergel filters for LEDs” as stated below?
Red 25
Yellow 15
Green 90
Blue 69, 79
Violet 39, 59
Magenta 40, 59, 342
Orange 15, 23
Lemon 15, 89
Turquoise 79, 389
Indigo 39, 74
Purple 59, 342
Scarlet 40, 339
Please let me know which supplier in Singapore can purchase LEDs and what brand name you recommend since I have no idea which lightbulb can be used for Dinshah Color Therapy.
Pls check with lapis lazuli. Shop in Kovan. I bought mine there.
Can Halogen bulbs 575 watts which are used in the Altman Shakespeare Ellipsoidal Spotlight be used for Spectro-chrome therapy?
These are not suitable for Spectro-chrome therapy. Use a 40-watt incandescent bulb. A PAR-38 Can is a good stage type lamp.
can you use a 2700k non dimmable 40 watt LED light bulb with the original Roscolene filters for Spectro Chrome color therapy
No, combining an LED light with the original Roscolene filters would not produce the correct colors. Please see this article where the specific LED lights needed are discussed: LED lights for Color Therapy
hi,
I have a LED with 3000K, 14W, 30°, and CRI>95! and an other with CRI>97.
Combine with original Roscolene filters
or needed the LED Version?
Roscolene filters must be used with an incandescent bulb. LEDs must be used with Supergel filters. Each is matched to that light output.
I also have a LED Cinema light 50W with selectable variable temperatures from 2800K to 6500K.
CRI>95.
Which filter versions with light temperature would you prefer?
thanks 🙏
6000 K is to be used with the Supergel filters.
I have a couple of questions. The first is specifically regarding using colored LED lights. I recently read a study that was performed with migraine sufferers who were exposed to 525nm green LED light for 1 hour daily. Migraines were reduced at least 50% and in some people it was quite a bit more. I’m wondering if using colored LED lights would have a similar effect compared to the original method if, and only if, the same quality of light was produced. This ties into my second question- are the wavelengths of the colors used in Dinshah’s LTBL known? Nowadays, it’s becoming so popular to use red light therapy for muscle soreness, injury recovery, and skin rejuvenation (increased collagen, wrinkle reduction, less inflammation, etc). There are countless devices available now from light panels to face masks, but they are all made with LEDs. And many of them also offer different colors, but red and infrared are generally the most well known. People are reporting results using these devices. I’d love to know how everything ties together. I was thinking we could begin to answer this by knowing the wavelengths of light (and the amount) produced using colored LEDs and those produced using Roscolene filters + incandescent bulbs.
For UK: A 2024 update!!
I’ve bought this set of gels from a VERY helpful gentleman, Paul, at this link:
https://www.10outof10.co.uk/acatalog/Full-set-of-Supergel-Sheet-for-Dinsah-Colour-Therapy-DINSAH.html#SID=164
Evidently, due to modern LED lights, this is now the correct full set.
Paul, the gentleman who owns that company, gave me a link to buy the CORRECT light-bulbs, here:
https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-elec/pel01654/lamp-globe-g45-led-6w-e27-6000k/dp/LP12342?st=es%20lamp%205000k
Miranda
Hi colorlight,
How did you determine the filter adjustments for higher color temperatures?
I’m currently speaking with Rosco to get recommendations for 4000k light, but by their words, the data is kept somewhat locked down.
With LEDs, Roscolene filters are not the best because they must do more work within their limited 80ºC PVC temperature limit. Because radiant energy from an LED is 95-98% in the visible region, filters must be cooled or operate at higher temperatures in the case of wide and long-range lamps. The newer Rosco and Lee’s filter technologies have better heat resistance and much higher softening and melting temperatures. In this way, the LED power wouldn’t need to be as limited to avoid destroying the filters, and lamps can be adjusted to accommodate the room and the posture of the user more easily.
If you have any data I can use to select the best temperature-adjusted filters, please let me know.
The filter adjustments for higher color temperatures are determined visually and with a spectroscope.
Regarding the best temperatures: For many years Roscolene filters have been used with a 40-watt bulb and Supergel filters with LEDs without any concern of melting temperatures etc. They last for years. We do not have recommendations for Lee filters.