Portable Daylight Lamps
Travel-Friendly Artists' Lighting
As any artist could surely tell you, light is a key component to the creative process. Without proper lighting colours appear dull, shadows lose their depth and finer details become undetectable which can lead to frustration and later revisions, undermining any artwork.
Daylight lamps combat this by offering well-balanced illumination that effectively simulates natural lighting conditions for greater clarity, tighter control, finer details & flawless colour accuracy.
Selecting the best daylight lamp for artists can streamline their work, but with so many options out there... what to go for?
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What Is a Daylight Lamp and How Does It Work?
Designed to replicate natural sunlight, daylight lamps use advanced LED technology to provide exceptionally bright 6000K lighting that can reduce the distortion caused by artificial lighting. These premium LEDs have a strong Colour Rendering Index (CRI), with ratings of 80+ or 95+ offering flawless lighting conditions, keeping colours real and dynamic.
Primary features include:
- Replicating clear natural daylight for precise colours
- Higher CRI to ensure real-life colour distribution
- Reducing eye strain for extended creative sessions
- Even, balanced light distribution to reduce harsh shadows
- Stable illumination with no flickering distractions
For more on the terminology, technical aspects and uses of daylight lamps, check out our previous blog right here.
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Why Portable Daylight Lamps are a Game-Changer
If you prefer to work outside, at your local coffee spot, or on-the-go, portable daylight lamps allow you to essentially take the sun with you, opening a whole new world of creative freedom.
Easy to carry
Some options like the Lytup or Smart Go feature versatile, compact designs made with lightweight materials, perfect for placing in your backpack before you head out for the day.
Perfect for travel and outdoor sketching
Portable daylight lamps offer reliable, accessible lighting after the natural lights begins to fade, allowing you to work at home, in a café or at the park at any time.
Consistent lighting anywhere
With their steady flicker-free lights and built-in dimmer switches, portable daylight lamps can be adjusted freely dependent on the lighting conditions, ensuring consistency throughout.
Popular uses for daylight lamps includes:
- Sketching, drawing & illustration
- Painting, crafting & modelling
- Journaling & calligraphy
Easel Lamp Go
The Easel Lamp Go from Daylight Company is the perfect portable companion to any easel or workstation.
Its energy efficient 95+ CRI daylight LEDs provide exceptional brightness and superb contrast for accurate colour reproduction. The built-in clamp offers a secure, reliable hold whilst the flexible arm, easy-to-position shade and 3-way dimmer eliminate shadows & prevent glare at several brightness levels to suit your needs.
Supplied with a 3m USB-C cable, it can be kept plugged in for uninterrupted use or charged for up to 4 hours of continuous brightness anywhere you’d like.
- CRI: 95+
- Weight: 0.6kg
- Colour Temperature: 6000K
- Energy Consumption: 5W
- Unplugged Working Time: Up to 4 hours
Halo Go 2 Magnifying Lamp
The Halo Go 2 from Daylight Company is a versatile, rechargeable magnifying lamp with two adjustable light settings powered by 36 individual 95+ CRI LEDs for superior uniform lighting.
Protected by a built-in safety cover, the 3.5" diameter lens with 5 diopter (2.25x) magnification includes an additional 12 diopter (4.0x) inset lens for crystal clear magnification whether you’re reading, drawing, painting miniatures or working on an intricate project.
Made using lightweight materials & designed to fold flat, this portable magnifier is USB-C rechargeable for up to 8 hours of brightness anytime, anywhere & includes a battery indicator in the base, ensuring you're never caught off guard in the dark.
The Halo Go 2 comes complete with a USB-C charging cable and an attractive soft velvet bag for protection with style while on-the-move.
- CRI: 95+
- Weight: 0.6kg
- Colour Temperature: 6000K
- Energy Consumption: 5W
- Unplugged Working Time: Up to 8 hours
Lytup 4-in-1 Flute Lamp
Easily converted to a desk lamp, wall light, clamp attachment or handheld flashlight, the Lytup 4-in-1 Flute Lamp is an incredibly versatile artists' lighting solution designed to fit around your needs.
Complete with a stable base, wall mount & clamp, the Lytup's detachable head offers convenience in a variety of situations or locations. Whilst the base has an adjustable 270° arm to direct the light where it's needed most, each of the additional attachments includes strong magnetic connectors that swivel easily, allowing for countless angles.
USB-C rechargeable for up to 9 hours of exceptional brightness at 4 different levels, this lightweight lamp's high-quality 80+ CRI LEDs not only offer true, accurate colour matching but don't strain your eyes, allowing you to work comfortable for longer periods.
- CRI: 80+
- Colour Temperature: 4000K
- Energy Consumption: 5W
- Unplugged Working Time: Up to 9 hours
Smart Clip-On Lamp
Designed as a portable, lightweight option for any setting, the Smart Clip-On Lamp is an easy-to-use daylight lamp that can be attached to a sketchbook, canvas board or any number of suitable surfaces for reliable, handsfree lighting anywhere.
With its flexible arm, energy efficient 80+ CRI LEDs and 3 brightness levels, the Smart Clip-On is a USB rechargeable daylight lamp offering up to 4 hours of continuous brightness on a full charge for light exactly when & where you need it.
- CRI: 80+
- Colour Temperature: 6000K
- Energy Consumption: 1.8W
- Unplugged Working Time: Up to 4 hours
Smart Go Lamp
The Smart Go is a compact, easy-to-use daylight lamp perfect for the artist-on-the-go. Made with lightweight materials & featuring a sleek unobtrusive flip-top design, the Smart Go is ideal for setting up anywhere without disrupting your creative flow.
Offering true colour matching, it’s energy efficient 95+ CRI LEDs can be adjusted to 3 separate brightness levels to suit your needs. USB rechargeable for up to 6.5 hours of continuous brightness, the Smart Go deactivates when closed, ensuring no battery power is ever wasted.
- CRI: 95+
- Weight: 0.45kg
- Colour Temperature: 6000K
- Energy Consumption: 5W
- Unplugged Working Time: Up to 6.5 hours
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Key Features to Look Out For
When searching for a portable daylight lamp, it can be daunting when faced with the sheer choice available. To help, here are some key features to keep an eye out for.
Brightness and Dimming Control
Whether it’s a simple 3-way switch or a continuous dimmer, each Daylight Company lamp offers easy adjustments to a variety of brightness levels. We recommend finding the right fit for your environment or experimenting with settings until you find the one, you’re more comfortable with.
Charging and Battery Life
Featuring long-lasting batteries for several hours of uninterrupted light, each portable daylight lamp is USB rechargeable & conveniently comes complete with the appropriate cable.
Portability, Functionality and Design
From the foldable Smart Go to the collapsible Halo Go 2 and the incredibly versatile Lytup 4-in-1, portable daylight lamps offer a range of designs to suit anyone.
Flexibility and Adjustability
With their rotating anti-glare shades, flexible arms and selection of mounting options, portable daylight lamps allow you to direct light anywhere and everywhere.
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FAQ: Shedding Light
Are daylight lamps suitable for long-term use?
Yes, beyond providing high-quality lighting, most contemporary LED daylight lamps have been economically designed with a particular focus on safety, versatility and longevity.
Can I use a daylight lamp in shared or public spaces?
Absolutely, with their easy-to-set brightness options, adjustable positioning and unobtrusive designs, most daylight lamps are both discreet and stylish enough to take with you to a café, studio or classroom.
Are daylight lamps suitable for artists working on mixed-media projects?
Yes, their even brightness and adjustable designs are ideal for exploring a variety of materials, mediums, techniques and textures in your work.
Do daylight lamps require special bulbs or replacements?
No, each lamp from Daylight Company includes energy efficient, long-lasting LEDs that (barring any unforeseen issues) never need replacing.
How do I maintain a daylight lamp for long-lasting performance?
Aside from the obvious (don’t throw it around, for instance!), it’s important to clean the lamp surface frequently to prevent potential damage and to avoid overcharging the batteries of portable options.
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In Conclusion
Portable daylight lamps offer the flexibility, form, function and versatility to allow you to work confidently in different environments and conditions without sacrificing colour accuracy or detail.
Explore our full range of artists' lighting solutions from Daylight Company today and discover free-standing options like their Artist Studio Lamp 2, versatile task lamps like the Lumi range and their specialised DuoPro line of dual-headed clamp, table and floor lamps.
