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Technical environment

Technical environment

Global standard 220V-240V/50Hz-60Hz
Standard for USA/Canada 120V/60Hz, 277V/60Hz
  • 中文

Our contents are shown to you in English. Product data is displayed for a technical region using 220V-240V/50Hz-60Hz.

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Luminance: definition and unit of measure

Figure depicting luminance.

The luminance L of a self-luminous surface results from the ratio of luminous intensity l and its projected area Ap.

Luminance (L) describes the brightness perceived by the human eye of a surface that, as a light source or through transmission or reflection, emits light. Luminance is defined as the ratio of luminous intensity (I) to the area projected perpendicular to the direction of observation (Ap). The photometric unit is candela per square metre (cd/m2).

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What is luminance?

While illuminance (E) is the light incident on a surface, the luminance (L) describes the light radiating from this surface. The light can radiate from the surface itself, for example from a lamp, but it can also be reflected or transmitted from a surface. For diffuse reflecting (matt) and diffuse transmitting (opaque) materials, the luminance can be calculated from the illuminance and the reflectivity- or transmittance factor.

Luminance thus forms the basis of the perceived brightness; however, the actual impression of brightness is still influenced by the state of adaptation of the eye, the peripheral contrast ratios and the information content of the surface seen.

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Luminance is the only photometric parameter perceived directly by the human eye.

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Further topics on photometry

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