The detailed XRD analysis, Raman spectroscopy and PL study were achieved in order to enlarge the understanding of the radiative processes in Ca, Sr, Ba thiogallate phosphors, prepared by solid state reaction with carbon as a reduction atmosphere. The crystal field splitting, Stokes shift, redshift and centroidal shift were estimated and they are in a good agreement with mathematical calculation and literature data. The nephelauxetic effect was first calculated in thiogallate phosphors. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.