Light Definitions

1 of 2

http://fiziks.net/webpages/lightdef.htm

Light Standards
Definitions and Formulas
The intensity of visible light is measured in units of candela or candles. The rate of flow of light
energy (luminous flux) is measured in lumens. One lumen is the flux on one square foot of a sphere, one
foot in radius with a light source of one candle at the center and radiating uniformly in all directions. One
lux is a unit of illumination equal to one lumen per square meter. The foot-candle is the direct
measurement of visible radiation falling on a surface. The foot-lambert is the unit measure of physical
brightness on any surface emitting or reflecting visible light.
Foot-candles X 10.764
Lumens/sq. ft.
X 1
Lumens/sq. ft. X 10.764
Lumens
X 0.07958
Lux
X 0.0929
Lambert
X 0.3183
Lambert
X 295.720
Lambert
X 1

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

lumens/sq. meter = lux

foot-candles
lumens/sq. meter
spherical candle power
foot-candles
candles/sq. cm
candles sq. ft.
lumens/sq. cm

Luminance is a measure of photometric flux density per unit solid angle. Luminance is typically
expressed in candela per square meter (lumens per square meter per steradian), or foot-lamberts (1/
lumens per square foot per steradian).

Radiance is a measure of radiometric flux density per unit solid angle (all radiant energy, not just
visible). Radiance is typically expressed in W/cm2sr

Irradiance is a measure of radiometric flux per unit area, or flux density. Irradiance is typically
expressed in W/cm2 or W/m2.
1 cd/m2 = 1 lm/m2/sr
= 1 nit
= 10-4 lm/cm2/sr
= 10-4 cd/cm2
= 10-4 stilb (sb)
= 9.290 x 10-2 cd/ft2
= 9.290 x 10-2 lm/ft2/sr
= 3.142 x 10-4 lamberts (L)
= 2.919 x 10-1 foot-lamberts (fL)
1 W/cm2/sr = 6.83 x 106 lm/m2/sr at 555 nm = 683 cd/cm2 at 555 nm

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

Radiant Flux is a measure of radiometric power. Radiometric flux, expressed in watts, includes light
at all wavelengths of the spectrum; ultraviolet (200 to 400 nm), visible (400 to 700 nm), and infrared (700
to 30000 nm).

Luminous Flux is a measure of photometric power. Photometric flux, expressed in lumens, includes
only visible light, and is weighted to match the responsivity of the human eye, which is most sensitive to

13/05/2015 9:38 PM

Light Definitions

2 of 2

http://fiziks.net/webpages/lightdef.htm

yellow-green.
RADIANT FLUX=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

1 Watt
0.27 lm
25.9 lm
220.0 lm
679.0 lm
683.0 lm
430.0 lm
73.0 lm
2.78 lm

at
at
at
at
at
at
at
at

400
450
500
550
555
600
650
700

nm
nm
nm
nm
nm
nm
nm
nm

Luminous Efficacyis the total luminous flux divided by the total radiant flux or in the case of a
lamp bulb, the total light flux in lumens divided by the electrical power input in watts. It is measured in
lumens per watt.
THE LIGHT HANDBOOK

13/05/2015 9:38 PM