NANLUX has introduced the Nebula C8, the first color light engine in its Nebula line and, according to the company, the industry’s first eight-color LED engine, aiming to deliver wider gamut coverage, deeper reds, cleaner indigo, and precise tint control for set work.
The Nebula C8 combines Deep Red, Red, Amber, Lime, Green, Cyan, Blue, and Indigo emitters. NANLUX says its proprietary mixing balances these sources to improve skin tones, extend the correlated color temperature range, and reduce artifacts found in simpler RGBW or RGBWW systems.
The Nebula C8’s Indigo LED avoids UV emissions below 400 nm, ensuring safe on-set use. Image credit: NANLUX.What the eight-color approach is trying to solve
Traditional four- and five-channel engines often skew orange in the reds and wash out in the blue-violet region. By adding a 665 nm Deep Red alongside the existing 645 nm Red, the C8 targets fuller red-spectrum coverage for healthier-looking skin, both to the eye and on camera. An Indigo emitter complements the short-wavelength end, which NANLUX says helps avoid pale indigo reproduction while maintaining smooth RGB transitions.
What a Nebula C8 COB is made up of. Image credit: NANLUXUltra-wide CCT and tint control
The C8 is specified for an exceptionally wide 1,000–20,000 K range with ±200 green/magenta adjustment available across that span. That low end allows for ultra-warm looks such as candlelight and flame simulations without resorting to heavy gels or post correction.
Image credit: NANLUXColor rendering and gamut figures
NANLUX cites 79% coverage of the CIE 1931 visible gamut and 92% of Rec. 2020, noting that its coverage exceeds the portion of Rec. 2020 that sits inside the visible gamut by 3%. In practice, the company positions the C8 as producing richer deep reds and more convincing indigo compared with six- or seven-color systems, and with fewer blending artifacts than RGBW/RGBWW designs.
Image credit: NANLUXSafety note: no UV output
While Indigo diodes can stray toward ultraviolet, NANLUX says the C8’s Indigo channel is engineered to eliminate wavelengths below 400 nm, avoiding potential UV exposure risks for cast and crew during prolonged use.
Image credit: NANLUXPart of a broader “Nebula” light engine roadmap
The company’s Nebula platform now includes the B4 white-light engine for maximum illuminance and the new C8 color engine for expressive color and broad CCT control. NANLUX positions B4 for high-power fixtures and C8 for medium- and low-power products within its latest professional lineup.
In short, the Nebula C8 reads as NANLUX’s most ambitious color engine to date, with specifications squarely aimed at color fidelity, skin tone accuracy, and on-set practicality.
The lights currently using Nebula C8 and B4 engines. Image credit: NANLUX
Are these the numbers you want to see in your next color-capable fixture, or are there other metrics you would prioritize?