Cross-cultural preferences for an optimal daylight illumination in viewing human faces

Lighting conditions influence the perception of health, well-being, and human interaction when viewing faces. This study aimed to determine the preferred daylight illumination to perceive human faces, considering cross-cultural influences. Hyperspectral data from eleven human faces were used to simulate on a computer screen the effects of CIE D illuminants with correlated color temperatures (CCT) ranging from 4000K to 25000K. The faces represented individuals of both black and white skin tones, including both male and female subjects. Sixteen African, 32 Asian, and 55 European participants conducted the experiment. Significant differences were found between the European group and the other groups. The most frequently preferred CCT was 5063 K for European participants, 5756 K for African participants, and 5836 K for Asian participants. These findings have implications for lighting design in multicultural environments.