Luminance vs Illuminance: What's the difference?
The terminology of each field is always its own and specific and the Lightight Industry is no exception. However, it can be quite confusing to outsiders, especially when it comes to terms that are so phonetically similar. In today's article we will clarify the difference between Luminance and Illuminance.
Luminance
The luminance of a light source or surface is the sensation of clarity, or brightness, that it produces in the user's eyes. If we look at an illuminated surface from any point, the luminance can be calculated by dividing the luminous intensity produced or reflected by that surface and the area visible to the eye.
Its unit of measurement for luminance is the candela per square meter [cd/m2].
illuminance
Illuminance indicates the intensity of illumination received by a surface. It is determined by the relationship between the luminous intensity and the surface area. The luminous flux is not evenly distributed over the entire surface, so the illuminance will not have the same values at all points on the surface.
Its unit of measurement is the lux [lx], which is equal to one lumen per square meter [lm/m2].
Luminance
The luminance of a light source or surface is the sensation of clarity, or brightness, that it produces in the user's eyes. If we look at an illuminated surface from any point, the luminance can be calculated by dividing the luminous intensity produced or reflected by that surface and the area visible to the eye.
Its unit of measurement for luminance is the candela per square meter [cd/m2].
illuminance
Illuminance indicates the intensity of illumination received by a surface. It is determined by the relationship between the luminous intensity and the surface area. The luminous flux is not evenly distributed over the entire surface, so the illuminance will not have the same values at all points on the surface.
Its unit of measurement is the lux [lx], which is equal to one lumen per square meter [lm/m2].
