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People look different in different lighting (think: candlelight vs fluorescent!), and the same holds true for art prints and canvases. How you light your wall art can have a tremendous influence on its visual impact—and longevity. To maximize the power, beauty and lifespan of all your framed artwork, just follow the basic tips below.

Art Lighting Dos

• Do invest in top-of-the line picture lighting. Museum-quality picture lights provide a generous, evenly distributed glow that will beautifully enhance your artwork—without risk of fading.
• Do shop around for the right lights for your décor. Do you prefer the clean, finished look of cordless picture lights? Would you like dimmable picture lights that you can adjust, depending on your mood, the occasion or time of day? Does the ease of picture lights with remote controls appeal to you?
• Do use halogen art lights to display your artwork—making sure that they conform to museum standards for UV output. Halogen lights most closely approximate natural sunlight without causing fading or dullness.
• Do angle your picture lights at a 30 degree angle to avoid a glare and to lend the most appealing effect.

Art Lighting Don’ts

• Don’t hang your artwork in direct sunlight or near windows. The sun’s infrared and ultraviolet (UV) rays are so powerful they can fade works of framed art, prints and canvases over time.
• Don’t hang your art prints, photography or canvas under fluorescent lighting. Apart from being unflattering with their cool, green tone, fluorescent lights emit extremely high levels of ultraviolet rays that can cause fading and overall deterioration of your artwork over time. Cold Cathode Fluorescent (CCF) lights are the exception—this type of fluorescent light is safe to use.
• Don’t hang your artwork beneath or across from a spotlight. Even ordinary incandescent light bulbs—an un-shaded 100-watt lamp—for instance, can cause fading and dulling over time if placed less than 10 feet from a work of art.

Bottom line? Professional, museum-quality picture lights can draw attention to your artwork and enhance its colors and richness. Overexposure to sunlight and certain kinds of artificial light will cause it to dull or fade prematurely. Choose your picture lighting wisely!