Objects can be accentuated with great effect to turn them into real eye-catchers. Visual impressions can be given an unusual appearance by selecting a crisp edged illumination. The opposite of such dramatic lighting is a uniform, large area lighting solution.

Object in the room

Observation

Objects in the room or area can be illuminated flexibly using track-mounted spotlights or floodlights. When illuminating an object with one spotlight in the direction of vision, the modelling effect is weak. Two spotlights, with sculpture accessories, shining from different directions create a balanced, three-dimensional effect. The brightness contrasts are milder compared to when using just one spotlight. Illuminating from below produces interesting effects since the light is coming from an angle which is unusual for the observer.

Narrow beam spotlights accentuate the object while floodlights show the object in the context of its surroundings. This reduces the modelling effect. Lighting from below can have the effect of making things look very strange. The possibility of dazzle must be prevented here in particular.


Arrangement

Objects in the room can be illuminated with an angle of incidence of 30° to 45° to the vertical. The steeper the incident light, the stronger the shadows. When the angle of incidence is 30°, strong reflection or undesirable shadows on people and objects are avoided.

Applications

ERCO

Accent lighting for
- museums
- exhibitions
- trade-fair stands
- sales and representational areas

Preferred luminaire groups
- spotlights
- floodlights

Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona

Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Object on the wall

Observation

Objects on the wall can be flexibly illuminated with track-mounted spotlights or floodlights.Spotlights highlight the wall-mounted picture. and create a decorative effect. ndividual wallwashers accentuate the picture more discretely than spotlights. everal wallwashers illuminate the wall evenly. The object is not emphasised. loodlights provide a homogenous illumination of the entire wall surface. A contour spotlight ensures very strong, effective emphasis of the wall-mounted picture.

Narrow beam spotlights accentuate the object while floodlights show the object in the context of its surroundings. Contour spotlights can illuminate the object with a crisp focused beam and thus highlight particularly well. This can result in an effect that makes the object look strange because the object itself seems to emit light.


Arrangement

Objects on the wall can be illuminated with an angle of incidence of 30° to 45° to the vertical. The steeper the incident light, the more vivid the object appears. On reflective surfaces, e.g. artworks behind glass or oil paintings, care must be taken that the angle of incidence does not cause secondary glare in the observer's line of vision. In addition, unwanted shadow, e.g. cast by the picture frame onto the picture surface, should also be avoided.

Applications

ERCO

Accent lighting for
- museums
- exhibitions
- trade-fair stands
- sales and representational areas

Preferred luminaire groups
- spotlights
- wallwashers
- floodlights

Museum of Contemporary Art, Barcelona

Museo Deu, El Vendrell

Palacio Real de Madrid

Reichstag, Berlin

Projects on this guide topic

Guide
The comprehensive Guide provides suggested solutions for different lighting tasks.

Basics

Perception as the basis for lighting design

Designing with light

Light makes objects visible and influences the mood of a room

Indoor lighting

Principles and methods of indoor lighting

Outdoor lighting

Principles and methods for outdoor lighting

Lighting control

Dynamic lighting effects and optimisation of energy usage

Lighting technology

Lamp and luminaire technology

Simulation and calculation

Methods, data and examples for visualisation

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