Color temperature affects lighting in a 3D scene by defining the warmth or coolness of light, directly shaping the scene’s mood and perceived realism.
It is measured on the Kelvin scale: Lower values (e.g., 2700K) produce warm, yellow/orange light (like incandescent bulbs), while higher values (e.g., 6500K) create cool, blue/white light (like daylight). This impacts material and texture appearance—warm tones may evoke coziness, cool tones convey sterility or futurism.
Aligning color temperature with the scene’s context (e.g., 3000K for home interiors, 5500K for outdoor daylight) enhances immersion and visual consistency in 3D lighting setups.