Basic Functions of Lighting
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Transcript of Basic Functions of Lighting
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Basic Functions of LightingLocal or task illumination: See recommendations in IES tables; consider placement of light sources and reflectance values of surrounding surfaces
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Task lighting
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Basic Functions of Lighting
General or ambient illumination: Provides fill lighting to reduce brightness contrasts. Common techniques used:
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Downlighting: Used for desk or table top tasks or for ambient lighting in spaces with high ceilings; light distributed through interreflection from walls
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Uplighting: Good ambient lighting technique or accent for interesting surfaces that are up; important that surfaces have high value, matte finish to reflect light
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Uplighting
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Basic Functions of Lighting, cont.
Accent lighting: Used to illuminate architectural or interior elements. Common techniques include:
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Grazing: Used to emphasize textural qualities of vertical surfaces and to define a space by featuring one wall over another. Achieved by directing light parallel to featured surface, appx 6-12 from surface
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Grazing
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Grazing
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Wallwashing: Unifies a wall with sheet of uniform brightness. Wallwashing also flattens texture of vertical surface; provides soft, ambient reflected light; attracts attention to wall; and unifies diverse objects on wall.
Good example of wall washing on right wall. Poor examples
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Backlighting: Rear lighting technique that diffuses light through translucent materials.
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Backlighting
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Highlighting: Emphasizes featured object by creating 5 to 10 times the amount of brightness on the object than in the background. High contrast attracts attention.
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Highlighting
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Silhouetting: Sandwiches an object between viewer and sheet of light. Object is outlined by the light the brightness of which serves as negative space. Details on face of object are obliterated.
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Silhouetting
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Basic Functions of Lighting, cont.
Decorative Lighting1.Light as art: Light output assumes unique and original forms. High contrast environment enhances impact.
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Shadowplay: Occurs where pattern of light is the background, or negative space, and shape of shadow carries the message.
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Shadowplay
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Beamplay: Opposite of shadowplay where light beam becomes the visual feature. Sometimes achieved with gobos
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Beamplay
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Sparkle: Occurs when bits of small brightness appear on a dark background. Requires very high contrast to be effective.
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Sparkle
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Sparkle
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Colored light: Use of colored light sources to create special visual effects
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Colored light
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Basic Functions of Lighting2. Decorative Luminaires: Often used for style or glitter/sparkle rather than light-producing qualities. To reduce contrast if strictly decorative, use low wattage lamps, dimming switch, and supplementary ambient & task lighting