Tag Archives: LED Strip Lights

Quality Matters

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Man installing diffuser cover over an LED Strip in a recessed aluminum channel

In recent years, LED lighting has gained immense popularity due to its energy efficiency, versatility, and long lifespan. As a result, numerous brands have flooded the market, offering cheap LED strips at discounted prices. However, when it comes to lighting solutions, quality should always be a priority. At Solid Apollo, we firmly believe in providing our customers with superior products that outshine the competition and are a cut above discount LED strips found on sites like Amazon.

  • Uncompromising Quality and Reliability:
    When it comes to LED strips, the manufacturing process plays a crucial role in determining quality and reliability. Solid Apollo strips are engineered with a higher copper content compared to many discount options. This extra copper ensures better heat dissipation, resulting in improved performance and longevity. Our dedication to using premium materials means that our LED strips are more reliable, safer, and longer-lasting than cheaper alternatives.
  • Comprehensive Warranties:
    Solid Apollo stands behind the quality of its products, which is why we offer warranties on almost every item in our inventory. Our warranties provide customers with peace of mind, knowing that they are covered in cases of defect or malfunction for up to five years.
  • Real Humans, Real Support:
    In today’s digital age, it can be frustrating to deal with automated systems and faceless companies. Solid Apollo is different. We have a local office and warehouse based in Washington state staffed with real humans who are available to answer your phone calls. Our team of experts is committed to providing top-notch customer service and addressing any inquiries or concerns you may have. When you choose Solid Apollo, you’re choosing personalized assistance and support that goes beyond the sale.
  • Free Tech Support:
    We understand that navigating the world of LED lighting can be daunting. That’s why we offer free tech support over the phone to assist you every step of the way. Whether you need guidance on installation, troubleshooting, or optimizing your LED lighting setup, our knowledgeable support staff is here to help.
  • High Customer Satisfaction:
    Solid Apollo takes immense pride in its commitment to customer satisfaction. As of July 2023, our dedication to delivering exceptional products and services has earned us a five-star rating on Trustpilot. This achievement reflects the positive experiences of customers who have chosen Solid Apollo as their preferred lighting solution provider. When you choose us, you’re not just investing in quality; you’re joining a community of satisfied customers.

When it comes to LED lighting, the choice between discount options and Solid Apollo is clear. Our commitment to uncompromising quality, personalized customer support, and high customer satisfaction sets us apart from the competition. By choosing Solid Apollo, you can illuminate your space with confidence, knowing that you’ve invested in superior lighting solutions that will stand the test of time. Don’t settle for anything less when it comes to your lighting needs.

Back to Basics: Color Rendering Index

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In our last Back to Basics blog we covered Correlated Color Temperature or CCT. We touched on the importance of selecting the correct CCT for various applications, from ambient lighting to task lighting, in homes, offices, and commercial spaces. However, not all LED strip lights are created equal in terms of color quality, which can affect the way we perceive colors and objects in the environment.

Color rendering is the ability of a light source to accurately and vividly reproduce colors, as perceived by the human eye. It is measured by the Color Rendering Index (CRI), which is a numerical scale from 0 to 100 that indicates how well a light source renders colors compared to a reference source such as sunlight. The higher the CRI, the better the color rendering ability of the light source.

High CRI lights are particularly important in business applications, where color accuracy and consistency are critical for visual aesthetics, product displays, and customer satisfaction. For instance, in retail stores, restaurants, art galleries, and museums, the lighting can significantly influence the way customers perceive the products and artworks on display. Poor color rendering can make the products or artworks look dull, distorted, or unappealing, leading to lower sales and reduced customer satisfaction.

Here at Solid Apollo we offer ULTRA High CRI LED strip lights that have exceptional color rendering properties. Our ULTRA High CRI lights have CRI ratings from 95 to 97, which means they can reproduce colors with high accuracy and fidelity, as seen in natural sunlight. Moreover, they have high ratings for R9 and R12, which are two crucial color rendering indices for red and blue tones, respectively.

Image of a shelf with colorful markers appearing dull due to low CRI. A caption on the bottom reads "Standard LED strips." Image of a shelf with colorful markers appearing vivid due to ULTRA High CRI. A caption on the bottom reads "ULTRA High CRI LED strips."

Take a look at the two images above simulating how objects in a retail store may appear under standard lighting like florescent tubes vs our ULTRA High CRI LED strips. Notice how the colors are richer under high CRI lighting, especially reds and blues referenced by R9 and R12.

R9 is a measure of how well a light source renders deep red colors, which are important for accentuating and enhancing warm colors in fabrics, flowers, and other objects. Solid Apollo’s ULTRA High CRI lights have R9 ratings up to 97, which is among the highest in the industry, indicating that they can produce deep red colors with exceptional accuracy and saturation.

R12 measures how well a light source renders blue hues. The high R12 rating of Solid Apollo’s lights means that they can accurately render blue hues, which are important for various applications such as medical procedures and clothing or retail stores, where accurate blue hues are critical. Solid Apollo’s ULTRA High CRI LED strip lights have R12 ratings up to 95 which is again among the highest in the industry.

Color rendering is an important factor to consider when choosing LED strip lights for business applications, where visual aesthetics and customer satisfaction are critical. Solid Apollo’s ULTRA High CRI LED strip lights offer exceptional color rendering properties, with high ratings for R9 and R12, making them an ideal choice for retail, hospitality, and other commercial spaces where color accuracy and consistency are paramount.

Back To Basics: Correlated Color Temperature

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This spring as we think about refreshing our spaces and bringing in upgrades like new LED, it’s important for us to take a moment and get back to basics. Let’s review the importance of color temperature in LED lighting, especially in spaces designed for commerce.

As LED lighting becomes more prevalent in retail environments, it’s important to understand the impact of correlated color temperature (CCT) on customers. CCT is a measure of the warmth or coolness of a light source, measured in Kelvin (K), with lower temperatures indicating warmer, reddish light and higher temperatures indicating cooler, bluish light. Understanding CCT and its effects on customers can help retailers create more effective and appealing environments. Take a look at the color temperatures we offer at Solid Apollo on the chart below.

A chart showing the range of LED light temperatures Solid Apollo sells. From left to right, 2400K, 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K, 5000K, and 6000K.

One of the most significant effects of CCT is its impact on mood and perception. Warmer, reddish light (CCT below 3000K) is often associated with comfort, relaxation, and intimacy, while cooler, bluish light (CCT above 5000K) is often associated with alertness, focus, and productivity. This means that retailers can use CCT to create specific moods and experiences in their stores.

For example, a high-end clothing retailer might use warm, reddish light to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere that encourages customers to browse and try on clothes. Conversely, a grocery store might use cooler, bluish light to create a bright, energizing environment that keeps customers alert and engaged as they shop.

CCT can also affect how customers perceive the colors of products in a store. Different CCTs can make colors appear warmer or cooler, which can impact how customers perceive the quality and desirability of those products. For example, a jewelry store might use a cool, bluish light to enhance the sparkle of silver, diamonds, and other gemstones, while a bakery might use warm, reddish light to make its products look more appetizing.

Overall, the importance of CCT in retail lighting cannot be overstated. By understanding the impact of CCT on mood, perception, and color, retailers can create more effective and appealing environments that attract and engage customers. Solid Apollo LED’s products offer a range of CCT options to help retailers achieve their desired lighting effects and create the perfect atmosphere for their stores. Take a look at our LED light strip selection, organized by CCT.

When you’re ready to invigorate your space, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 425.582.7533. We can’t wait to help you light up your way to success!

ULTRA High CRI LED Strips Are Here

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Earlier this year we featured the stunning application of our High CRI strips in a new distillery in Buffalo, NY. These LED strips use powerful lighting tech to mimic natural light and provide vivid, accurate colors in any setting. Here at Solid Apollo, we’re focused on innovation. We thought, what if we could take this beloved product and make it better, and that’s exactly what we’ve done. Today we’re introducing our newest line of quality LED strips, ULTRA High CRI. We’ve taken everything that made our High CRI strips amazing and improved upon an already fantastic product.

Animation that replicates the difference between standard LEDs and ULTRA High CRI LEDs, featuring a washed out shelf of fabric that fades into vivid colors to represent ULTRA High CRI.

Our new ULTRA High CRI strips feature updated technology that allows us to produce a strip with every CRI R value in excess of 87. What exactly does this mean and why is it so important? CRI, or color rendering index, is a measurement of the ability of a light source to accurately represent an object’s colors in comparison to natural light. Measured by color values labeled R1 to R15 and rated on a scale of 0 to 100, lights with higher R values will show surroundings and objects in more vivid and realistic colors. Traditional LEDs have CRI averages in the low 80s and often lower. Even many LEDs labeled as High CRI can have low ratings for important values like R9 and R12 which represent vivid reds and deep blues respectively. Our new ULTRA High CRI strips successfully bridge these gaps boasting R9 and R12 values ranging from 87 to 97 with total averages from 95 to 97 for a truly full spectrum line of LED strip lights. Below is an example value graph from our new ULTRA High CRI strips in 3000K showing strong values across the entire CRI gamut.

Color Rendering Index (CRI) • ULTRA High CRI (3000K)

R1 – 99
R2 – 99
R3 – 99
R4 – 97
R5 – 98
R6 – 96
R7 – 97
R8 – 96
R9 – 91
R10 – 97
R11 – 93
R12 – 95
R13 – 98
R14 – 99
R15 – 99

Besides offering unparalleled color rendering, effective lighting offers many benefits especially in retail environments. Customers psychologically respond to light and color. It’s why McDonald’s uses red and yellow to trigger appetite, hunger, and speed and how IKEA guides customers on a specific, curated path through their showrooms. Think about your own experiences as a consumer. Have you purchased a piece of apparel that looked great in-store but then completely different outside? Or conversely maybe you’ve been in a clothing, jewelry, or makeup store where everything was dull and uninspired. The solution to these problems for business owners is our ULTRA High CRI lights.

High CRI lighting ensures merchandise and retail areas are appealing, vivid, and display accurate colors of all a retailer has to offer. Warm lights help to accent cafés, bakeries, and gold jewelry. Cooler pure white lights are perfect for areas with lots of whites and blues, bright marble or stone surfaces, and silver jewelry. A daylight or natural white is the way to go for lighting produce, clothing, or cosmetics where accurate colors as they appear in daylight is very important. Proper use of our fixtures will draw customers’ eyes and increase their likelihood of forming a positive bond with a retail area’s atmosphere and products. Stores that have moved to effective LED lighting have shown an increase in sales of two to twelve percent as reported by Lux Review.

With our new strips and expertise in LED lighting we are ready to help you effectively and professionally light your store, restaurant, bar, and more. Our new ULTRA High CRI line launches now in a full range of color temperatures. Get in touch with us today at info@solidapollo.com or 425.582.7533 to beginning planning your lighting future.