Light+Vocabulary


 * Ambient Lighting ** : The general lighting present in an area --excluding task lighting and accent lighting but including general lighting and daylight streaming in.


 * Beam Spread **** : ** A measure of the spread of light from a reflectorized light source, a special-shaped lamp with a reflective coating inside the bulb to direct the light forward. The beam spread may be very narrow (narrow spot), very wide (wide flood), or something in-between (narrow flood, for example). Examples of "reflectorized light sources" are MR11, MR16, PAR20, PAR30, PAR38, R40, ER30, and BR30 lamps.


 * Sky Glow **** : ** Also, known as "light pollution". The "haze" or "glow" that surrounds highly populated areas and reduces the ability to view the nighttime sky. Specifically, light that enters the sky from an outdoor lighting system by indirect light reflected from atmospheric particles such as fog, dust, or smog.


 * Wall Washing **** : ** A lighting technique that produces a relatively smooth, even level of illumination on a wall that minimizes the apparent texture of the surface.

**Bulb:** A loose way of referring to a lamp. "Bulb" refers to the outer glass bulb containing the light source.

**Cove Lighting:** A lighting system comprised of light sources shielded by a ledge or recess, and distributing light over the ceiling and possibly the upper part of the wall. To learn more about this topic click Cove Lighting.


 * Hardwired: ** Technically means that the light fixture is permanently connected to an electrical source. The light fixture is not hardwired if it gets power via a cord & plug.


 * High-Bay Lighting: ** Lighting designed for (typically) industrial locations with a ceiling height of 25 feet and above.