Light Principles

REMI CLINTON | RAMSUNDHAR
WHAT IS LIGHT
The natural agent that stimulates

sight and makes things visible.
LIGHT Defines ,
form
Color
Creates mood
Atmosphere
Emphasizes direction and
Movement
LIHGTING
• Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve a

practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both
artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural
illumination by capturing daylight.
FORMATION OF LIGHT
ELECTOMAGNETIC RADIATIONS
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy transfer by means of periodic variations in the
electromagnetic field, and can also be interpreted as the movement of particles (photons).
LIGHT FORMS
Visible light is emitted and absorbed in tiny "packets"

called photons, and exhibits properties of
both waves and particles.
FORMATION OF COLOUR
White light is not a single colour; it is made up of a
mixture of the seven colours of the rainbow.
We can demonstrate this by

splitting white light with a
prism:
This is how rainbows are

formed: sunlight is “split up” by
raindrops.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF LIGHT
1) ABSORPTION
2) REFLECTION
3) REFRACTION
4) TRANSMISSION
ABSORPTION
• When light strikes an object it is either absorbed or reflected. The absorption process
converts the radiant energy of light into thermal energy and releases it as heat
• The amount of light absorbed will depend on
• Surface colour
• Contour
• Composition
The absorption of all light will result in darkness
Ex : Photosynthesis,Solar Panels,Camera Sensors,Etc.

REFLECTION
• The light which is not absorbed is reflected in a pattern which is dependent upon
surface characteristics. If an object does not emit its own light, it must reflect light in
order to be seen.
Angle of Incidence = Angle of Reflection
• Types of Reflection
• Specular or regular reflection
• Diffuse reflection
• Spread reflection
• SPECULAR REFLECTION
• Reflection from a smooth, mirror-like surface is called specular.
• DIFFUSED REFLECTION
• When the reflected light rays are distributed in all direction with max.
intensity normal to the surface
• SCATTERED REFLECTION
• When the reflected light is distrubed in all direction ,but allows the
greatest intensity of light to be sent off at or near the angle of incidence for
surface hightlight
REFRACTION
• Refraction occurs when the light ray changes mediums. Light traveling through
air and then going through water is an example of a light ray changing medium.
• Depending on the new medium the light will travel faster or slower. It is the
different densities that causes the ray to slow down or speed up which then
causes it to bend. Light rays slow down about 25% when passing through water
and 35% when passing through glass.
• If the light travels slower then this medium is called the denser medium. If the
light ray travels faster then the medium is called the rarer medium. When light
enters a denser medium the ray bends toward the normal - when light enters a
rarer medium it is bent away form the normal.
TRANSMISSION
• The transmission of light is the allowable passage of light beams through a

medium(solid, liquid or gas)
Types of Transmission
• Direct transmission
• Diffused transmission
• Spread transmission
DIFFUSED TRANSMISSION
Passage of light through a translucent
medium which disperses the light beam
within itself such that the images behind
the medium cannot be distinguished
DIRECT TRANSMISSION
• Passage through transparent

medium which allows light beam
to pass through and emerge
unaffected by the
transmission(glass, water)
SPREAD TRANSMISSION
• When the medium refracts

only a portion of the beam
;often used to conceal a
light source while still
providing surface highlight
FUNDAMENTALS UNITS OF LIGHT
LUMINOUS FLUX
• measures the amount of light per unit of time, and is abbreviated as Φ . Its unit of
measurement is the lumen (lm).
LUMINOUS INTENSITY
• measures flux in a given direction, and is abbreviated as I . Its unit of
measurement is the candela (cd = Im str- 1) (str: unit of solid angle in which the
surface subtended on a sphere is equal to the square of the radius)
LUMINANCE
• indicates the lightness of an emitting surface for an observer, and is abbreviated
as L . Its unit is the candela per square metre (cd m- 2).
ILLUMINANCE
• measures the flux reaching a given surface, and is abbreviated as E . Its unit of
measurement is the lux (lx).
NATURE OF VISION
• Light enters the eye

through the pupil, is
focused on the retina,
and is transmitted to our
brain via the optic
nerve. A significant part
of our brain is dedicated
to the processing of visual
information.
WORKING OF EYE
The iris is a muscle that controls the size of the pupil and therefore,
the amount of light that enters the eye. Also, the color of your eyes is
determined by the iris.
A reversed image is projected onto the inner surface of the eye, via a
deformable lens. The light sensitive retina the role of the film. The image
is then transported via the optic nerve from the retina to the brain, where
it is adjusted in the cortex and made available to the conscious mind.
• Rods: Photoreceptors that are specialized for night vision. Respond well in
low lighting .Do not process color
• Cones: Photoreceptors that are specialized for daylight vision, fine visual
acuity and color. Respond best with lots of light
• The rods are more numerous, some 120 million, and are more sensitive
than the cones. However, they are not sensitive to color. The 6 to 7 million
cones provide the eye's color sensitivity
• the 6 to 7 million cones can be divided into "red" cones (64%), "green"
cones (32%), and "blue" cones (2%) based on measured response curves.
• VISUAL TASK
To detect and recognize specific elements within the visual field
• VISUAL PERFORMANCE
The ability and efficiency in completing visual tasks.
• VISUAL ACUITY
A measure of the ability to distinguish fine details
• VISUAL COMFORT
Visual comfort is taken to mean the absence of physiological pain ,
irritation or distraction . Visual comfort within a space depend on the
contrast levels and luminance variation across the space
FACTORS AFFECTING VISUAL PERFORMANCE
• • Illuminance / Luminance
• • Contrast
• • Shadows
• • Glare
• Size: refers to the size of the visual task
• Time: refers to the time a visual task is presented.

Light Principles

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Light Principles

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Light Principles

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

REMI CLINTON | RAMSUNDHAR

The natural agent that stimulates

Emphasizes direction and

• Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve a

Visible light is emitted and absorbed in tiny "packets"

We can demonstrate this by

This is how rainbows are

The absorption of all light will result in darkness

Ex : Photosynthesis,Solar Panels,Camera Sensors,Etc.

Angle of Incidence = Angle of Reflection

• The transmission of light is the allowable passage of light beams through a

• Passage through transparent

• When the medium refracts

• Light enters the eye

• Size: refers to the size of the visual task

• Time: refers to the time a visual task is presented.

You might also like