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Glam Journal

How do you convert luminance to illuminance?

Author

Elijah King

Updated on March 04, 2026

How do you convert luminance to illuminance?

Illuminance (lux) x reflectance = luminance (apostilbs). Apostilbs is not an SI unit. To convert this to SI (candelas m-2) divide by pi (or multiply by 0.318). If the Munsell “Value” reference of a color is known the reflectance can be approximately calculated using Reflectance = V(V – 1) where V = value.

What is the relationship between illuminance and luminous flux?

In photometry, illuminance is the total luminous flux of light incident per unit area. In other words, luminous flux represents the total amount of light emitted by the source, while illuminance refers to the total amount of light received by an object.

What is luminance in illumination?

Luminance is a photometric measure of the luminous intensity per unit area of light travelling in a given direction. It describes the amount of light that passes through, is emitted from, or is reflected from a particular area, and falls within a given solid angle.

What’s the difference between irradiance and illuminance?

Irradiance is a measure of radiometric flux per unit area, or flux density. Illuminance is a measure of photometric flux per unit area, or visible flux density. Illuminance is typically expressed in lux (lumens per square meter) or foot-candles (lumens per square foot).

How is illuminance and luminance calculated?

While illuminance measures light incident on a surface, luminance is the light emitted or reflected by that surface in candela/m2 or “nits”. The values of luminance ​L​ and lux ​E​ are related through an ideal surface that emits all light with the equation ​E = L x π​.

Is illumination and illuminance same?

As nouns the difference between illumination and illuminance is that illumination is the act of illuminating, or supplying with light; the state of being illuminated while illuminance is (physics) the luminous flux incident on unit area of a surface; measured in lux or lumens.

What is the difference between illuminance and luminance?

Illuminance is measured as the amount of light striking a surface. Luminance, is what we measure off of the surface that has light hitting it. Luminance is the measurement of the product of the incident light and the surface – anything that is reflected.

Is illuminance same with illumination?

What are illuminance levels?

Light Level or Illuminance is the total luminous flux incident on a surface per unit area. The area – the work plane – is where the most important tasks in the room or space are performed.

What is the difference between irradiance and irradiation?

(Solar) irradiation – The sum of the energy falling on a surface in a given time-period, originating from the sun, measured in MJ/m2. (Solar) irradiance – The power or instantaneous rate of energy received by a surface, originating from the sun, measured in W/m2.

What is irradiance physics?

When any kind of radiation (radioactive particles from a source, or electromagnetic waves) is incident on a surface , its irradiance, , is defined as the power per unit area.

How do I find my illuminance?

Illuminance is the Luminous Flux per unit area of incident radiation away from the light source. (unit:Lux,lx) Illuminance can be considered the Flux within one square meter. lx = lm/ m2. An example is shown below.

What does luminance mean and what is it related to?

In scientific terms, the brightness of light is measured in terms of Luminance. The word ‘Luminance’ is directly defined by CIE in relation to human vision. It is represented by the letter Y as far as video is concerned.

How to determine luminance?

A luminance photometer is able to determine the luminance of a surface by calculating the luminous flux for a given focal plane created by an onboard lens that intercepts the light from a given source. The light is then refocused onto a measurement plane on the back of the photometer that can take light intensity readings.

How to calculate illuminance?

Illuminance Solution Convert Input (s) to Base Unit Evaluate Formula Convert Result to Output’s Unit

What are the units of the illuminance?

Measuring Units Light Level – Illuminance 1 lux = 1 lumen / sq metre = 0.0001 phot = 0.0929 foot candle (ftcd, fcd) 1 phot = 1 lumen / sq centimetre = 10000 lumens / sq metre = 10000 lux 1 foot candle (ftcd, fcd) = 1 lumen / sq ft = 10.752 lux