I use the Optimax in sunlight, natural or cool white in my games.

http://www.cometpinball.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=OPMAX

Depends on the game, but I use the accent spots from pinball life: http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1542

And wire them with 12V so I can use something like these: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-T10-COB-LED-Car-Interior-Wedge-Lamps-Instrument-Bulb-W5W-WY5W-192-Auto-Parking-Lights/32807454479.html

Which are awesome bulbs that really light up the playfield. At 10 for $1, hard to go wrong.

Tapping into the12v is brilliant!!

Do those bulbs flicker at all?

I add the same accent spots above the slings on all my games and sometimes in other areas in the upper playfield that is darker too.

Here is my TOM before and after adding spot lights above the slings. I also added a small led strip in the ball drain area and dual flexhead leds under the slings. I have one head pointing upwards to light up the plastic and the other head pointed sideways towards the area between the slings.

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Using them on constant 12v, I have not noticed any flicker. Here is a photo from Tron, where I just added a pair of wires from Aux port to power the spots (as opposed to the 6V GI). Much, much nicer than the originals! I have also used these for some flashers and have been impressed with the results.

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Nice! I've done the same to my ToM.

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For color, my go to is purple. Its doesn't bleed off and makes the play field colors pop and come to life. I've typically done these.
https://www.cometpinball.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=4SMD3528

I have tried purple and it works in some games (e.g., Bride of pinbot), and have swapped out purple for white in other games (e.g., Wizard of Oz). My circle of LED spot colors are sunlight, cool white, warm white, purple (in order of how frequently used). Definitely want to go for the brightest with the furthest throw of light. Comet's quasars are my favorite for 6.3V LEDs: http://www.cometpinball.com/product-p/2-5630smd.htm

My answer would be it depends on the distance of the spot to cover and the width.

Be it close, like lighting the heads on roadshow, being short throw, to cross
playfield, being long and wide.

For short throw, it doesnt matter much.

For Brightness:

Opmax>Quasar>Twin2835>4SMD

The two Caveats, is Opmax is over 320 degrees, so un rectified is a bit brighter..., is a bright wide beam just under 1 watt.
For a spotlight, super bright, and narrow focus, a 1 Watt Magnum is bright as hell.

This is another 12V T10 (555) bulb that I recently got that I REALLY like: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Wholesale-T10-canbus-led-18led-3014smd-t10-Led-Canbus-Car-Smd-Light-w5w-194-18smd-18led/32267258860.html

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How would u point that?

It creates incredible throw and spread in a spotlight, but you want to angle the spotlight down a bit.

Some photos showing the playfield illumination with and without these bulbs. Also, have one showing how they look installed in a spot light.

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The flat 4-LED bulbs from Pinball Life are my favorite for spotlights. They're bright as F, and sit deep into the spotlight. This is great because they pop out less & it allows the inside reflective part of the cone to really grab all the light and blast it.

Those aren't really bright as F. Art's post on 6.3V LEDs is spot on (pun intended):

After my posts in this thread, I decided to spot light my TZ with 12V spots. Here are before and after.

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Hi Eric,

12V is great for spots!!....I had used some stepper boards and attached to GI,
and used Cob panels mounted on the Apron. Covers the whole game.

Have you tried that? or Anyone else? Ill grab a pic off of WOZ.

For the stadium lighting affect Ive used USB LED strips with dimmer and attached to GI.
Usually under $10 for GI Stadium type lighting.

In for pics

I may get to play game tetris tomorrow, and be able to get to it.

Op-Max bulbs will be on sale at Comet. A must have a bunch of.
More than doubles the coverage of other bulbs and lights smoothly.

Shipping to Canada seriously sucks....

Do want for my demoman restore.

Are you guys taking these and just wiring them to 12v and using a 12v bulb? Or is there a separate socket you're using?

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1542

When I need a bright bulb for a spotlight, to use in place of a 555, I've found that the 4-SMD LED "when bright is not bright enough" bulbs from Pinball Life are excellent. They're nice and bright.