RGB LEDs and bi-coloured LEDs provide versatile and unique lighting solutions suitable for a range of applications in photography and videography, enabling you to set the perfect scene. They’re a popular choice due to their adaptability, ease of use and tangible brightness controls.
However, it’s a common query as to what the difference is between RGB and bi-coloured LEDs. Knowing what differentiates them can help elevate your creative projects and ensure you’re buying the right equipment for the atmosphere you’re trying to create. In this blog, we take you through the differences of each, as well as how you can incorporate them into both your home and creative projects.
RGB LED vs Bi Coloured LED: What's the difference?
First, let’s discuss what makes RGB and bi-coloured lighting different. Each option offers many benefits for both photography and videography to upgrade the overall look of your shots, but both have incredibly different styles.
Bi-coloured LEDs - Bi-coloured lighting is as it sounds, it allows you to adjust between two different colours. This is typically between warm light (around 3200K or Kelvin as it’s measured on the Kelvin light scale) and cool light (around 5600K). It offers an adjustable white scale which will be perfect for creating a neutral, balanced look.
RGB LEDs - RGB lights allow you to use a whole spectrum of colours, making them a popular choice among creatives who wish to create a more dynamic lighting setup. Using the three primary colours, red, green and blue, these lights can produce almost any colour for complete visionary control.
Which is better, RGB or bi-coloured lighting?
Both lightning types are great for photography and videography and both offer different advantages. However, in order to pick out which one will be the best for your creative projects, you first need to understand the pros and cons of each type of LED to help you make an informed decision.
Pros and cons of Bi-coloured LEDs
Bi-coloured lighting is great for situations in which you may need to balance the lighting, for example, making a warmer shot look cooler and giving a cooler shot some warmth. This makes them great for filming at night or indoors where you’re reliant on artificial lighting to give you a neutral look.
To ensure you’re making the right choice for your next project, below we have included the pros and cons of using bi-coloured lighting for your photos and videos.
Pros of bi-coloured lighting:
- Offers precise control over the temperature of shots
- Easy to use
- Natural/neutral lighting (good for creating white balance).
Cons bi-coloured lighting:
- Less creative control for those looking for bolder or more dynamic shots
- Only two colour options are available.
Pros and cons of RGB LEDs
RGB LEDs are perfect for those looking for more creative shots and colourful outcomes. They’re less about balancing temperatures and more about creating bold and striking visual experiences. They’re perfect for experimenting with a variety of looks if you’re still trying to find your artistic expression or if you want to leave a bold and impactful look.
While RGB lights offer a wide range of benefits, to help give you peace of mind when it comes to choosing the right lighting, we’ve included a list of both the pros and cons of RGB LEDs below.
Pros of RGB lighting:
- Unlimited colour options for complete creative freedom.
- Dramatic and creative effects for your shots
- Produces effects for unique lighting situations such as strobe effects and colour transitions.
Cons of RGB lighting:
- Less control over the balance of your shots and fewer natural colours
- They tend to have a weaker light intensity.
Bi-coloured or RGB: Which is best for you?
While both bi-coloured and RGB LED lights have their place in photography and videography, with each light offering unique effects, depending on the type of project or creative vision you have - you’ll need to make sure you’re buying the right option for your subject.
You don’t want to shoot a serious interview with dramatic red lighting, just like you wouldn’t want to shoot a fun musical video with neutral lighting. To make sure you get the vibes just right we’ve included different scenarios in which you can use bi-coloured and RGB lights below.
When to use bi-coloured lighting
As bi-coloured lighting is usually used to create balance, these kinds of lights are great for creating neutral and professional-looking photos and videos. They can make your shots look clean and are great for colour accuracy.
A few scenarios of when bi-coloured lighting would be best include:
- Interview and corporate videos
- Product photography
- Indoor filming (for creating a neutral look indoors)
- Portrait photography
A great example of bi-coloured lighting that would be great for these scenarios is the Kenro Smart Lite bi-colour light panel. Perfect for a variety of film and photography projects, this panel is easy to set up for quick interviews and impromptu photoshoots as well as offering a brightness control to suit a variety of situations.
Kenro Smart Lite Bi-Colour LED Light Panel
When to use RGB LEDs
As RGB lights are colourful and offer unique transitions and effects for your projects, these lights are best used when you want to create a bold and dramatic atmosphere. They’re a great option for creatives looking to experiment with lighting and aesthetics.
Some scenarios where RGB lighting is often used include:
- Music videos
- Artistic photography
- Cinematic shoots
- Event Photography
If you’re looking for an RGB light to suit the above scenarios with powerful, vibrant colours then we would recommend the Kenro Smart Lite RGB Light Panel. Featuring 9 programmed effects and complete RGB and brightness control for access to thousands of colours, you can achieve the perfect atmosphere no matter if you’re experimenting with artistic photography or filming.
Kenro Smart Lite RGB Video Light Panel
Get lighting solutions for all your projects with Kenro
Both bi-coloured and RGB lighting offer solutions and unique effects for your photos and videos. Whether you’re balancing the temperature of your lighting for a portrait photograph or you’re creating an unusual effect for your next video with deep, vibrant colours - it’s all a matter of preference.
We understand how important it is to get the right lighting for your projects as bad lighting can cause a bad visual experience and hold back your creativity. That's why here at Kenro we stock a wide range of premium photography lighting and video lighting to meet all of your creative needs.
