Uses for various colors / types of lights:
RED:
- at low levels, it will preserve your night vision
- good for amateur astronomers
- requires slightly more light (than green) to gain the same acuity, but disturbs your dark adaptation less than green light
- some animals cannot see red well, useful for spotting, viewing wildlife
- the only choice if you want enough light to actually read (say, a star chart) without ruining scoptopic adaptation for astronomy
- there is almost no peripheral vision sensitivity to red, which causes a "tunnel vision" effect
- many things like leaves absorb red light completely, so it is a poor choice for general lighting
BLUE:
- makes finding blood trails easier, especially in combination with red or white light
- does not attract certain insects/bugs that white light does (also differs in types of insects/bugs that are attracted to yellow)
- cyan: used in Forensics (with goggles) to identify fingerprints, typically when specific sprays and/or powders are applied
- easiest color to hide from an audience, which is why it is used so widely backstage and in other technical spaces in theatres
- studies show that blue light may have a calming effect
GREEN:
- an alternative for red for low light use, as your eyes are much more sensitive to green light, so lower levels can be used
- have you ever tried to read a topographical map (or most highway maps) under red light? All the topographical/street data printed in red 'disappears'
- allows you see things with the least possible lumen output (eye's sensitivity), but effects dark adaptation (night vision) more than red
- some animals cannot see green well, useful for spotting, viewing wildlife
- useful with light intensification goggles and scopes (night vision / low light vision devices)
YELLOW/AMBER/ORANGE:
- does not attract certain insects/bugs that white light does (also differs in types of insects/bugs that are attracted to blue)
- a good "compromise" wavelength: night vision sensitivity is still relatively low, but overall sensitivity is very high
- helps reduce glare from fog and dust
- almost everything reflects amber to some extent (ie, both green leaves, and red dirt will reflect different amounts of amber)
UV:
- a type of light, not a color
- mineral prospecting
- reading security markings
- reveal scorpions
- in forensics, (with goggles) to find serological evidence
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