Lighting design requires knowledge of certain elements of lighting. Whether it is Vaxcel lighting, pendant lighting, spot lighting, or floor mount lighting the quality of light will be maintained by numerous variables. Creating the right mood for the right environment will mean using these factors in a masterful way. These factors, include the shape of the light, the volume of light, the temperature of the light, the direction and the diffusion.

Shaping light is an integral aspect of lighting design. Enter into any high class eating establishment and there will be some obvious brightand dark areas and a balance around the dining room that allows for intimacy and functionality. Like a stage production with spot light, colored lights and other effects, shaping the light, is a way of drawing attention to, or away from aspects in a room. The light, can create a feeling of depth on a flat wall by making places of light and dark. The light can be used to draw attention to a beautiful vase or painting. Changing the direction of the lights can help to mask a work area by placing lights directed outward right in front. No one prefers to look in to brightness, and the iris shifts making darkness appear behind the brightness, like looking out a window in a well lit room makes the evening appear darker.

The volume of light is Like light-shaping. This is taking a space and deciding the amount of which light is to be used to illuminate a room. Many people wash a room in light by illuminating the entire room. The amount of light used creates an overall feelingfor a space. Hollywood can be looked to for advice regarding amount of light; dramatic lighting has high contrast ratios, and comedy lighting tends to be much flatter and even. A lighting designer worth their salt will design a space or house with varying ranges of contrast ratio, providing unique feelings for each room.

The temperature of a light whether it is heat or coolness determines the quality of its color. The color temperature creates a mood of its own. The sun is hot, but in comparison to tungsten lighting it is a cool blue. Tungsten lights are also designed to offer different light quality. Fluorescent lights may put forth a greenish hue within a space. The best light design can be ruined by the wrong choice of bulb.

Diffusion is part of the dynamic of shaping the light. Light will flow where it is pointed. Some bulbs and fixtures focus the direction, others attempt to redirect the light. Diffusion is a way of dispersing the direction of light, softening the shadows that it casts. A well designed restaurant may attempt to diffuse the light at a table to avoid the harsh unflattering shadows cast by direct light. This is sometimes down by taking a direct light on the table that will bounce indirect diffused light onto the patrons sitting around the table, casting them in flattering light. Light, can create a variety of moods and textures in any given room.

Comments are closed.