What is the color temperature of direct sunlight?

The color temperature of direct sunlight is approximately 5600K, which is significant because it represents the spectrum of light that is emitted by the sun when it's high in the sky. This temperature indicates a balance of color that closely resembles neutral white light, making it ideal for various media applications, including photography and videography.

In practical terms, when working with lighting for images or film, using light sources that match the 5600K temperature helps ensure that colors are rendered accurately, similar to how they would appear under natural sunlight. This is particularly important to avoid color casts that can occur when using artificial lights that differ significantly from the sunlight spectrum.

The other temperatures provided do not accurately reflect sunlight. For example, 3200K is commonly associated with tungsten lighting, which gives a warm, yellowish color, while 6400K and 4800K are less typical for direct sunlight, corresponding instead to cool daylight conditions or artificial lighting scenarios. Thus, the choice of 5600K aligns perfectly with the characteristics of sunlight, making it the correct answer.