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Accent lighting is a lighting technique used to highlight or draw attention to specific objects, architectural features, or areas within a space. It creates contrasts and thereby visual interest, adds depth, and enhances the aesthetics of a room. Typically achieved with spotlights, track lights, or wall-mounted fixtures, accent lighting complements overall room illumination.
Ambient lighting, also known as general lighting, provides overall illumination to a room. Accurate ambient lighting ensures a comfortable level of brightness, allowing people to move and see adequately. This type of lighting often comes from fixtures like ceiling lights and sets the foundational lighting mood for a space.
In the lighting industry, "beam angle" refers to the angular spread of light emitted by a light source or fixture. It indicates how wide or narrow the beam spread of light is that the fixture produces. A smaller beam angle results in a more focused and intense light, while a larger beam angle produces a broader light. Beam angle is crucial for determining the coverage and distribution of light in various applications, such as spotlights with narrow beam angles for accent lighting and floodlights with wide beam angles for general illumination. It's a key specification when selecting the right lighting for specific tasks or spaces.
In the lighting industry, "binning" is a quality control and categorization process for LED chips. It involves sorting LED chips into specific groups, or "bins", based on their performance characteristics. These characteristics can include brightness (output), color temperature, color rendering properties, and voltage characteristics. Binning ensures that LED products using the same LED type within the same bin have consistent and similar specifications, allowing manufacturers to create more uniform and reliable lighting products. It is especially important for applications where consistent color or performance is critical.
COB, or Chip on Board, is a technology used in the lighting industry where multiple LED chips are mounted directly onto a single substrate to form a single, high-intensity light source. This arrangement enhances the lumen output and efficiency of the lighting fixture while ensuing a compact design. This technology is often used in spotlights, downlights, and track lighting due to its ability to provide a concentrated and powerful light source in a compact package.
CRI, or Color Rendering Index, is a measurement used in the lighting industry to assess how accurately a light source reproduces the colors of objects compared to natural light, being sunlight . It is represented on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating better color rendering. A CRI of 100 would mean that the light source replicates colors as accurately as natural daylight. Lighting with a high CRI (90+) is essential in settings where color accuracy is critical, such as shops, bakeries and design, as it ensures that colors appear true and vibrant under that light source.
Diffuse lighting is a lighting technique that scatters light evenly across a surface or throughout a space, minimizing shadows and harsh contrasts. It creates a soft, gentle illumination, making it ideal for creating a visually comfortable environment. Diffuse lighting is often achieved with fixtures using an opal diffuser or frosted glass.
Dimming in the lighting industry refers to the ability to adjust the brightness or intensity of a light source. This is typically achieved by reducing the electrical current supplied to the light fixture. Dimming allows for customizable and dynamic lighting in various settings, from homes and offices to theaters and hospitality spaces. It can enhance ambiance, save energy, and extend the lifespan of LEDs and bulbs and thus fixtures. Dimmers or dimming systems are used to control the dimming process, and they come in a variety of technologies, including analog, digital, and smart control options.
Direct lighting is a method in which light is emitted directly from a fixture onto a specific area or object. This type of lighting is often used for applications requiring focused illumination, such as reading or working. Pendant lights and spotlights are common fixtures for direct lighting.
Indirect lighting is a lighting design technique that directs light upwards or towards a surface, creating a soft, diffused glow that reflects back into a room. It reduces glare and shadows, promoting a comfortable atmosphere. Common sources for indirect lighting include wall light, cove lighting, and uplighting fixtures.
In the lighting industry, "LDT" stands for "Luminaire Data File." It is a standardized file format used to store and exchange data about the photometric and geometric properties of a light distribution, intensity, and other performance characteristics, which can be used in lighting design software to simulate and analyze how the fixture will illuminate a space. Lighting designers, architects, and engineers often rely on LDT files to accurately model and plan lighting systems for various applications, ensuring that the chosen luminaires meet specific lighting requirements and standards. These files help streamline the design and specification process, making it more efficient and accurate.
LED, or Light Emitting Diode, is a semiconductor device used in the lighting industry to produce light. LEDs emit light when an electrical current passes through them. They are highly energy-efficient, converting a significant portion of electricity into visible light, making them the most popular choice for various lighting applications. LEDs are known for their much longer lifespan than traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. They come in a wide range of colors, are environmentally friendly due to their low energy consumption, and have revolutionized the lighting industry with their versatility and durability.
In today's lighting industry, LED "lifetime" typically refers to the expected operating high performing lifespan of a lighting product, such as a light bulb or LED fixture. It represents the duration for which the light source is anticipated to maintain a certain level of performance. The lifetime of a lighting product is often measured in hours, and it can vary significantly depending on the technology and usage. Factors that influence lifetime include the quality of materials, operating conditions (such as temperature and voltage), and whether the light source is used continuously or intermittently. Understanding the lifetime of lighting products is important for both consumers and businesses to plan for replacements and maintain adequate illumination levels.
Lumen is a unit of measurement used in lighting to quantify the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source. It is a more accurate way to assess the brightness of a light source compared to wattage, which measures only energy consumption. The higher the lumen output of a light source, the brighter it appears. Lumens are a crucial metric for selecting the right lighting products for different applications, ensuring that spaces are adequately illuminated.
In the lighting industry, "lux" is a unit of measurement that quantifies the level of illuminance or brightness at a specific point on a surface. It indicates how much light is falling on a given area. Lux is a critical metric for assessing the effectiveness of lighting in various applications, such as in homes, offices, or outdoor spaces. It helps in determining if the illumination meets recommended levels for safety, visibility, or specific tasks. The lux level required can vary depending on the purpose of the lighting, with tasks like reading or detailed work typically requiring higher lux levels than ambient or decorative lighting.
Task lighting refers to focused illumination designed to provide adequate and directed light for specific activities or tasks, such as reading, cooking, or working on a computer. It enhances visibility and reduces eye strain by concentrating light on the area where it is needed, optimizing productivity and comfort.
UGR, or Unified Glare Rating, is a measure used in the lighting industry to assess the degree of discomfort caused by glare from indoor lighting fixtures, particularly in office and workspace environments. It quantifies how much the lighting installation contributes to visual discomfort and discomfort glare for individuals within a space. The UGR rating scale typically ranges from 10 to 30, with lower values indicating less glare and better visual comfort. Lighting designers use UGR to design lighting setups that minimize glare, making workspaces more suitable for tasks that require concentration and reducing eye strain for occupants.
Up- and downlighting are lighting techniques used to direct light in specific ways: Uplighting: This technique involves directing light sources upward to illuminate the ceiling or upper walls, which then reflects light downward. It creates a soft, indirect, and ambient illumination that can make a room appear larger and more inviting. Downlighting: Downlighting is the opposite, where light fixtures are mounted or suspended from the ceiling and direct light downward. It provides task or accent lighting, ideal for illuminating specific areas or objects, such as a dining table or artwork. This technique reduces shadows and enhances visibility. Both up- and downlighting are commonly used in interior and exterior lighting design to achieve various aesthetic and functional effects.