MATERIALS part 1.4 ILLUMINATION AND LIGHTING

Natural light

Light that is not man-made. Daylight

Artificial light

Light from electrical sources, and is man-made, can be turned on and off at a flick of a switch.

General lighting

also known as background lighting or ambient lighting, and a direct replacement of natural light.

Local lighting

Lighting designed to provide a relatively high level of illumination over a small area with a surrounding area of lower intensity from spill light.

Task lighting

these are intended for the users to perform specific tasks. These are well positioned and well-directed lighting that provides localized light in certain areas where work is typically done

Accent lighting

This is a key element of creative lighting design, these reveal color, texture, and form. Their main objective is often pure aesthetic. They are intended to build a visual accent, creating a point of interest for the viewer by highlighting and painting specific objects around us

Highlight

used to emphasize an object by illuminating with a strong light

Backlight

Illuminates something from behind in order to enhance depth or to separate the subject from its background.

Sidelight

Light coming or produced from the side.

Softlight

diffused light that produces little contrast and poorly defined shadows on the subject

Hardlight

direct light that produces high contrast and distinct shadows on the subject

Information lighting

Also known as orientation or utility lighting. Provides visual information for our safety and comfort. Information lighting often based in areas of total blackness.

Indirect lighting

90-100% of light output of luminaire is directed to ceiling and upper walls of room

Semi-indirect lighting

60% - 90% of light is directed upward, similar to indirect lighting, but more efficient. 10% - 40% of light is directed downward.

Direct-indirect lighting

Provides approximate equal distribution of light upward and downward

Semi-direct lighting

60% to 90% of light is directed downwards; while 40% to 10% is directed upwards.

Direct lighting

90-100% of the light output is directed downwards

General lighting (method of light distribution)

lighting is distributed on all sides

Cornice lighting

A system where light sources are shielded by a panel parallel to the wall and attached to the ceiling to distribute light downwards over the wall. Also known as soffit lighting

Cove lighting

A system where light sources are shielded by a ledge to distribute light upwards over the ceiling and upper wall. It is a form of indirect lighting.

Valance lighting

a system where light sources are shielded by a panel parallel to the wall usually across the top of a window. this provides light both upwards and downwards over the wall

Lamp

it is defined as any various devices producing light, either by electricity or gas; The source of light in a fixture, colloquially called a "light bulb"

Incandescent lamp

it is a source or artificial light that works by incandescence

Filament

The threadlike conductor of an electric lamp that is heated to incandescence by the passage of an electric current

Bulb

The glass housing of a lamp

Lamp base

It is the part of a bulb that connects to a lamp holder

A Bulb

the standard rounded shape for the bulbs of general-service Incandescent

B Bulb

it is a flame-shaped bulb for low-wattage, decorative Incandescent lamps.

C bulb

It is a cone-shaped bulb for low-wattage, decorative Incandescent lamps

CA bulb

It is a candle-shaped bulb for low-wattage, decorative Incandescent lamps

R bulb

it is a reflector bulb of blown glass for Incandescent and high-Intensity-discharge lamps, having an internal reflective coating and either a clear or frosted glass front to provide the desired beam spread

PAR bulb

It is a parabolic aluminized reflector bulb cast glass for incandescent and high-intensity-discharge lamps, having a precisely formed internal reflector and a lensed front to provide the desired beam spread

ER bulb

it is an ellipsoidal reflector bulb for incandescent lamps, having a precisely formed internal reflector that collects light and redirects it into a dispersed pattern at some distance in front of the light source

A/SB bulb

it is an A bulb having a hemispherical reflective silver bowl opposite the lamp base to decrease glare

G bulb

It is a globe-shaped bulb for incandescent lamps, having a low brightness for exposed use

PS bulb

it is a pear-shaped bulb for large incandescent lamps

S bulb

It is a straight-sides bulb for low-wattage decorative incandescent lamps

Tungsten - Halogen

Also called quartz or quartz-iodine lamps, these uses a halogen gas cycle to prevent rapid depreciation of the lamp filament and darkening oof the transparent envelop

Floodlights

A broad-beamed, high-intensity bulb. They are often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields.

J Type bulb

This is double-ended and commonly used as security lighting.

JC Type

This is a low voltage bulb, commonly found under counters in desk lamps, or as accent lighting. They come in capsule shape, with 2 pins at the base.

JCD type

they are commonly used in under-counter lighting, desk lamps, accent lighting, or pendant lighting. Similar to JC type since they have pins at the end, but different since they use a higher voltage

JDD type

These are generally used in the foodservice industry and come in the standard base size. They have a halogen filament that is enclosed in glass, and then surrounded again by an overall glass jacket

JDR type

These are small reflector floodlights that are commonly used in range hoods or as track lighting. They come in clear or frosted glass finishes and can be purchased with or without a glass cover

MR bulb

A multifaceted reflector bulb for tungsten-halogen lamps, having highly polished reflectors arranged in discrete segments to provide the desired beam spread

Fluorescent lamp

comprises a cylindrical glass tube, sealed at both ends and containing a mixture of an inert gas, usually argon and mercury vapors.

Fluorescence

the emission of radiation, especially of visible light, by a substance when exposed to external radiation

Phosphor

any of a number of substances that emit light when energized by radiation

Standard (fluorescent)

Otherwise known as T-bulb. This is in tubular form, and is the standard shape of a fluorescent bulb. It comes in 4 tpyes, T12, T8, T5, and T4

Slim-line (fluorescent)

Does not require a starter, have single-pin bases, come in diameter 3/4", 1", and 1- 1/2", and come in lengths from 42" (4ft) to 96" (8ft)

Circline (fluorescent)

Dougnut shaped for circular luminaaries

U-bent (fluorescent)

U-shaped and used for square or rectangular luminaries

Pre-heat

required a starter which preheats the cathodes so that less voltage is required to strike an arc

Instant start

When the lamp is first switched on, a sufficient voltage is applied between the electrodes to strike the arc without preheating them.

Rapid Start

These are the most recent developments. The one that is most widely used. These type of lamps use low-resistance electrodes which can be heated continuously with low current loses

Choke Coil or Ballast

All flourescent light sources require a control device or an auxiliary, called a _____________, located in the metal base.

Automatic switch

it is known as a starter. It is self-contained in a small tubular jacket which is inserted in the fixture body and is a replaceable part.

Compact Fluorescent lamps

a type of lamp designed to fit into roughly the same space of a fluorescent but has a fluorescence advantage. It has a longer life, and uses less energy.

Spiral

This is the most popular type of compact fluorescent bulb

Incandescent shaped

It is basically an A-shaped bulb. Essentialy, it's a spipral bulb with a dome of clear glass that mimics and incandescent bulb

Globe

this is meant to be on display, such as in a bathroom vanity fixture or a pendant light. This mimics a globe incandescent which would be a great choice for a more retro look

Tube

these were some of the first CFL bulbs available to consumers. They come in quad tubes, twin tubes, and F types

Candle-shaped

shaped like an incandescent candle light bulb. These are smaller, sleeker, and more appropriate for decorative lighting tasks

Post

These are basically spiral CFLs on the inside, with a durable cover on top that is sealed to withstand wind, rain, and snow

Reflector

These are used in place of incandescent floodlights because they provide directional light. They can also be used in recessed or track lighting

Neon Vaper lamps

A cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) emitting a glow when a high voltage is applied across two electrodes in a gas-filled glass tube.

High-intensity discharge lamps

Type of lamp which are members of the electric discharge family of light sources (as are fluorescent lamps). Light is produced when a high-pressure electric arc is passed through a gas vapor, rather than by a low-pressure arc as in fluorescent lamps.

Mercury vapor lamps

contains mercury vapor in a clear quartz arc tube, which when electrically excited, produces visible light of characteristically blue-green color. It is suitable only for limited industrial areas, general outdoor applications and street lighting.

Metal Halide lamps

a modification of the mercury vapor with an arc of improved color. In addition to mercury, the arc tube contains metallic vapors such as indium iodide, thallium iodide, or sodium iodide. It possesses therefore increased light output, improved color rendition without the use of phosphors, and small source size.

High pressure Sodium lamps

are the newest addition to the HID field. Its arc tube is made of high-density polycrystalline alumina an contains a mixture of primarily sodium.

Solid State Lighting

A type of lighting that utilizes light - emitting diodes (LEDs). Light in this type of lamp is emitted from a solid object, which is a block of semiconductor.

Creates visible light with reduced heat generation.

Reflector (Luminaires)

a surface for reflecting light heat, or esp. the device on a luminaire having such surface for controlling the distribution of light emitted by a lamp

Lens

A piece of transparent material as glass or plastic, having two opposite surfaces either both of which are curved used in luminaires to focus, disperse, or collimate the emitted light

Diffuser

Any of a variety of translucent materials for filtering glare of a light source and distributing the light over an extended area

Louver

Grid type of optical assembly used to control light distribution from fixture.

Suspended ceiling lights

The most common type of lighting fixture offering the greatest variety of designs. Light distribution can be any method depending on the shade you choose and the length of cord to which the bulb hangs

Chandelier

Decorative lighting usually having branched supports for a number of lamps.

Droplight

A lighting fixture suspended by a flexible cord by which it can be raised or lowered

Pendant (Luminaire)

Like a droplight, but a fixed and is suspended by a cord, wire, or chains.

Wall lights

A wall-mounted light fixture that diffuses light into the room, usually through a translucent housing

Sconce

A decorative wall bracket for holding candles or lights

Wall washers

Used to bathe a wall in an even stream of light usually ceiling mounted, recessed in the ceiling or mounted on a light track

Ceiling lights

Ceiling-mounted lighting that is not recessed. It provides general lighting.

Downlights

provides directional light in a downward stream. It is normally recessed or semi-recessed in the ceiling, and when fully recessed is one of the most visually inconspicuous and attractive luminaires

Troffer lights

It is a rectangular light fixture that fits into a modular dropped ceiling grid

Prismatic

This type uses a prismatic lens that distributes light over a spectrum and distributes a concentrated light source over a larger surface area.

Parabolic Louvered

This is the solution for people complaining about the output and uneven distribution of light in a prismatic fixture

Uplights

This type of fixture sends light upward.

Spotlights

Ceiling-,wall-, or floor-mounted, or attached to a track, this is a flexible adjustable luminaire that directs light a controlled beam.

Floor lamps

light fixtures that are freestanding.

Table lamps

A variety of decorative lights which gives a soft glow. Can be used as bedside reading lights as well as for stylistic effects in the living room.

Desk lamps

Essential to provide task lighting, it gives a concentrated directional light to a specific area

Strip lighting

rigid flexible tape with exposed low-voltage light sources

High-bay lights

These are used to illuminate spaces with high ceilings, usually ceilings that are above 20 feet in height.

Visual Oddities

Designed for visual impact rather than the way they distribute light. Provide aesthetic stimulation and amusement.

Illumination

defined as the intensity of light per unit area

Electric Illumination

Essential to provide task lighting giving a concentrated directional light to a specific area.

Brightness

defined as the light emanating from the object being viewed

Contrast

This is the difference in brightness between an object and its background

Glare

refers to an excessive luminance ration in the field of vision, and is a strong, steady, dazzling light or reflection