

Luminance is the measurable quality of light that most closely corresponds to brightness, which we cannot objectively measure. Because luminance and illuminance are quantifiable, they are not interchangeable with brightness. Luminance describes the amount of light passing through the lightbulb, while illuminance describes the light hitting the desk. The best way to understand the difference between luminance and illuminance is to picture a lamp shining on a desk. These three terms are commonly interchanged, but they are essential to understanding display calibration. When we speak of brightness, we use subjective words like “dim” or “brilliant” because it cannot be measured like luminance, but it can be scaled in percentages.Ĭlarifying the Difference Between Luminance, Illuminance and Brightness In the case of our display profiling products, we measure the luminance of the cd/m 2 as the unit of measure.īrightness is what we perceive when lumens fall on the rods and cones of our retina. Luminance typically describes the intensity of emitted light.

Luminance is the luminous intensity projected on a given area and direction. It is measured in lumen per meter square, or lux. Illuminance is the quantity of light or luminous flux falling on a surface. Here are the differences you need to understand to properly calibrate and profile your display. When talking about monitor calibration, many people interchange illuminance, luminance and brightness, but they are not the same. If you browse inspiration photos online, send color samples back and forth via e-mail, or transfer color files between suppliers and customers, you need to calibrate and profile your display to trust the colors you see on-screen. Out of Production Products - Find Your UpgradeĪ calibrated display is not just for photographers.
