Introduction to Lighting

1. 1. Lighting is the usage of light to achieve an aesthetic effect and that can be achieved by
using both artificial light like lamps and light fixtures as well as natural illumination by
capturing daylight
2. 2. Low-intensity lighting and haze in a concert hall allows laser effects to be visible
3. 3. Light fixtures
4. 4. Day lighting using (windows, skylights or light shelves) can be the main source of light in
some buildings for saving energy consumption.
5. 5. Skylight
6. 6. Light shelves
7. 7. Light shelves
8. 8. Indoor lighting is usually accomplished using light fixtures, and is a key part of interior
design. Lighting can also be an intrinsic component of landscape projects.
9. 9. Light fixtures Lighting fixtures come in a wide variety of styles for various functions. The
most important functions are as a holder for the light source, to provide directed light and to
avoid visual glare. Some are very plain and functional, while some are pieces of art in
themselves. Nearly any material can be used, so long as it can tolerate the excess heat and
is in keeping with safety codes. Color temperature for white light sources also affects their
use for certain applications. The color temperature of a white light source is the temperature
in Kelvin of a theoretical black body emitter that most closely matches the spectral
characteristics of the lamp. An incandescent bulb has a color temperature around 2800 to
3000 Kelvin; daylight is around 6400 Kelvin. Lower color temperature lamps have relatively
more energy in the yellow and red part of the visible spectrum, while high color temperatures
correspond to lamps with more of a blue-white appearance. For critical inspection or color
matching tasks, or for retail displays of food and clothing, the color temperature of the lamps
will be selected for the best overall lighting effect.
10. 10. Color temperature of a heated metal
11. 11. The effect of increasing heat on light color
12. 12. Types of lighting
13. 13. Task lighting Task lighting is mainly functional and is usually the most concentrated, for
purposes such as reading or inspection of materials. For example, reading poor-quality
reproductions may require task lighting levels up to 1500 lux (150 foot-candles), and some
inspection tasks or surgical procedures require even higher levels
14. 14. A lux meter for measuring illuminances in work places.
15. 15. Accent lighting Accent lighting is mainly decorative, intended to highlight pictures, plants,
or other elements of interior design or landscaping.
16. 16. General lighting General lighting (sometimes referred to as ambient light) fills in between
the two and is intended for general illumination of an area. Indoors, this would be a basic
lamp on a table or floor, or a fixture on the ceiling. Outdoors, general lighting for a parking lot
may be as low as 10-20 lux (1-2 foot-candles) since pedestrians and motorists already used
to the dark will need little light for crossing the area.
17. 17. Methods of lighting • Down lighting • Up lighting • Front lighting
18. 18. Down lighting Down lighting is most common, with fixtures on or recessed in the ceiling
casting light downward. This tends to be the most used method, used in both offices and
homes. Although it is easy to design it has dramatic problems with glare and excess energy
consumption due to large number of fittings. The introduction of LED lighting has greatly
improved this by approx. 90% when compared to a halogen down light or spotlight. LED
lamps or bulbs are now available to retro fit in place of high energy consumption lamps
19. 19. Up lighting Uplighting is less common, often used to bounce indirect light off the ceiling
and back down. It is commonly used in lighting applications that require minimal glare and
uniform general illuminance levels. Up lighting (indirect) uses a diffuse surface to reflect light
in a space and can minimize disabling glare on computer displays and other dark glossy
 surfaces. It gives a more uniform presentation of the light output in operation. However
indirect lighting is completely reliant upon the reflectance value of the surface. While indirect
lighting can create a diffused and shadow free light effect it can be regarded as an
uneconomical lighting principle.
20. 20. Front lighting Front lighting is also quite common, but tends to make the subject look flat
as its casts almost no visible shadows. Lighting from the side is the less common, as it tends
to produce glare near eye level. Backlighting either around or through an object is mainly for
accent
21. 21. Architectural lighting design Architectural lighting design is a field within architecture,
interior design and electrical engineering that is concerned with the design of lighting
systems, including natural light, electric light, or both, to serve human needs. The design
process takes account of: • the kind of human activity for which lighting is to be provided. •
the amount of light required. • the color of the light as it may affect the views of particular
objects and the environment as a whole. • the distribution of light within the space to be
lighted, whether indoor or outdoor. • the effect of the lightened system itself on the user.
22. 22. Lighting tips for each room
23. 23. Living room Light three of the four corners, focusing one of those lights on an object (art,
a plant, a striking chair). Use a combination of table lamps and floor lamps, some with a
downward glow and some that shine upward. If you have an overhead fixture, put it on a
dimmer and always avoid direct visual glare.
24. 24. Dining room Make the table the brightest spot in the room. Use a chandelier or a pendant
above the table, limiting the total wattage to 100. Elsewhere in the room, indirect lighting is
best—it’s relaxing and flattering. Give the space a subtle glow with a pair of small table
lamps on a sideboard or matching sconces on the wall above. Battery-powered votives
inside a glass-front china cabinet can be a nice touch.
25. 25. Kitchen Focus on overhead lighting (on a dimmer that you can crank up when cooking),
and add lower sources to illuminate work surfaces. Use pendants, under-cabinet lights, or a
sturdy table lamp (kept away from the sink).
26. 26. Bedroom Aim for a cozy, insular atmosphere: Place reading lamps or sconces by the
bed—but not pointed directly at it. If you have recessed or track fixtures, angle them away
from the bed, toward the dressing area. On a low table, include a small, intimate lamp with a
tinted low-wattage bulb to mimic candlelight.
27. 27. Bathroom The best choice for applying makeup is sidelights, such as a pair of sconces
flanking the mirror. An overhead light helps fill in any shadows on your face and also fully
illuminates the room (important when cleaning). In a large space, you might also want a light
directly over the shower.
28. 28. Flush-mount Fixtures like these hug the ceiling. In a bathroom or a kitchen, their bright,
whole-room illumination is useful; elsewhere they can be harsh. Calm one down by swapping
in low-wattage bulbs, aiming for a total wattage of about 60.
29. 29. Kitchen Pendants They should clear the head of the tallest family member and not
obstruct views— figure 36 to 48 inches from the top of the counter. Start the row of lights 12
to 15 inches from either end of the island or table, and space them evenly within that span.
30. 30. Go for a fixture one-half to three-quarters the width of the table; anything larger will cast
shadows on faces. Hang the light 36 to 48 inches above the table. Choose the lower number
for more intimacy, the higher one if you want to stand when toasting.
31. 31. Reading light Use a 40- to 60-watt bulb. To prevent shadows, the lamp should be
between your head and the page. A lamp with an opaque shade, like a metal reading lamp,
cuts glare.
32. 32. 1: Silver Bowl A metallic finish on the top half of the bulb softens the light. A great
solution for overheads with exposed bulbs, especially if there isn’t a dimmer. (Halco clear
silver-bowl globe, $3, 1000bulbs.com.) 2: Soft Pink Emits a gorgeous, rosy glow. Perfect for
mood lighting in the living room, the dining room, or a bedroom. Once you switch, you’ll
never go back. (Sylvania soft pink bulbs, $5.50 for two, hardwarestore.com.) 3: Round
Candelabra Try these in a modern chandelier. Or, for a surprise, swap them in for the flame-
shaped bulbs in a traditional chandelier. (GE crystal-clear globe lightbulbs, $3, amazon.com.)
4: Edison Inspired by Thomas Edison’s original design, it has a visible filament and a rustic
glow. Pricey and low-wattage, it’s worthwhile only in lamps where the bulb is exposed.