We frequently receive requests to capture various lighting scenarios in videos and photos showcasing our opals. This demand stems from the fact that opal can exhibit diverse appearances when subjected to different lighting conditions. Please know that we do not provide any additional photos or videos than what is provided as a lot of our stock is kept over different office locations to where our photo studio is located.
There are a few general rules that we have learned about opals and how they look in different lights.
Insights to Consider Regarding Opals: Understanding Their Distinctive Qualities
Precious opal displays play of color, common opal does not. Play of color is defined as a pseudo chromatic optical effect resulting in flashes of colored light from certain minerals, as they are turned in white light. The internal structure of precious opal causes it to diffract light, resulting in play of color. Therefor; color needs light at some form to show its beauty in play of color. Without light, opal will not display this. Opals will therefor always look at their best when shown in as much exposure to light as possible.
Examples of Light Vs No Light
Black Opal
With Light
No Light
With Light
No Light
With Light
No Light
With Light
No Light
Dark Opal
With Light
No Light
With Light
No Light
Black Crystal Opal
With Light
No Light
With Light
No Light
With Light
No Light
With Light
No Light
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Artificial Light
All of our photos and videos are taken under direct cool LED Lighting (4 arm directional lighting). This type of lighting shows most opals best color. If you have an opal and wish to see its best colors and brightness, use a cool desk lamp, or stand directly under a cool LED house light.
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Sunlight
All opals will look very nice when exposed to direct sunlight. It is almost similar to what an LED lighting exposure will look like, however will show a bit more of a yellow tinge from the sunshine. We do not usually show opals under direct sunlight for this reason; as they look very similar to what we already provide under artificial lighting.
Examples of Artificial Light Vs Sun Light
Black Opal
Artificial Light
Sun Light
Artificial Light
Sun Light
Artificial Light
Sun Light
Artificial Light
Sun Light
Black Crystal Opal
Artificial Light
Sun Light
Dark Opal
Artificial Light
Sun Light
Crystal Opal
Artificial Light
Sun Light
Boulder Opal
Artificial Light
Sun Light
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Low Light
Some opals can look just as stunning in low lighting conditions as they do under direct lighting conditions. This is especially true with white opals. White opals with lower lighting on them can show the colors in them much clearer than with bright exposure to light. This is because of the lighter body tone base, with too much light will kill the colors and blend into the body tone. With less lighting on them it will show the colors best. If you are looking to purchase an opal for a ring or pendant, and expect to usually wear this opal in lower lighting conditions (for example maybe for an evening dress ring), then a white opal is a good choice.
Boulder opals also do usually look very nice in lower lighting. Not much will change in a boulder opal compared to high lighting exposure.
Most lightning ridge opals will lose some of their brightness / color / pattern / body tone under lower lighting conditions. They look best when exposed to direct light.
Ironstone and Sandstone Based Opals
Boulder Opals and Crystal Boulder Opals with Sandstone backing do not change too much in different lighting conditions. In general; they will look their best in natural sunlight. Lower brightness may decrease the brightness of these opals, however they will not become dull or colourless in this exposure. We are often requested to make low light videos of boulder opals, and in our response we usually say that these opals will not change much in colour or brightness.
Potch and Crystal Based Opals
Lightning Ridge Black, Dark and Crystal Opals; as well as crystal boulder opal without sandstone backing all need direct light to look their best. Exposure to light is what sets these opals off. Sometimes, we receive an email from a customer who has purchased an opal from us and says their opal is not like the photos and videos on our website. Our photos and videos are made under direct LED Lightning to show the opal at their best colour. Our response is usually take the opal out of the box, from your low light room and look at it under different lighting – sunlight, desk light, well lit kitchen area. Your opal will look at its best in these lighting scenarios.
