Illumination
Posted on 06/21/2012
Illumination refers to any use of light, natural or artificial, to achieve a practical or esthetic effect. Natural light from the sun and artificial light from incandescent light bulbs are both examples of illumination.
The types of illumination have been standardized by the International Commission on Illumination known as CIE (French abbreviation for Commission internationale de leclairage). The CIE was founded in 1913 and currently is based in Viena, Austria. It is responsible for developing standards for illumination and colors.
The CIE classified six different types of illuminants known as A, B, C, D, E, F where the letters represent the following types of lighting:
A - incandescent light
B - direct sunlight
C - average daylight
D - phases of daylight
E - equal energy illuminant
F - fluorescent lamps
The CRI or color rendering index is the measurement guide to assess a light sources ability to reproduce an objects color accurately in comparison to an ideal or natural light source. The higher the CRI score, the more accurate the light source as compared to natural light - which is used as the benchmark.
In dentistry, the light source in the office setting has a dramatic impact on shade selection. We will discuss some of the challenges to office light in future blogs.
Portions of this post were adapted from the book:
Fundaments of Color - Shade Matching and Communication in Esthetic Dentistry published by Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc and written by Dr. Stephen J. Chu, Dr. Alessandro Devigus, Dr. Rade D. Paravina and Mr. Adam J. Mieleszko. and the
Wikipedia article/s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_rendering_index
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_illuminant
The types of illumination have been standardized by the International Commission on Illumination known as CIE (French abbreviation for Commission internationale de leclairage). The CIE was founded in 1913 and currently is based in Viena, Austria. It is responsible for developing standards for illumination and colors.
The CIE classified six different types of illuminants known as A, B, C, D, E, F where the letters represent the following types of lighting:
A - incandescent light
B - direct sunlight
C - average daylight
D - phases of daylight
E - equal energy illuminant
F - fluorescent lamps
The CRI or color rendering index is the measurement guide to assess a light sources ability to reproduce an objects color accurately in comparison to an ideal or natural light source. The higher the CRI score, the more accurate the light source as compared to natural light - which is used as the benchmark.
In dentistry, the light source in the office setting has a dramatic impact on shade selection. We will discuss some of the challenges to office light in future blogs.
Portions of this post were adapted from the book:
Fundaments of Color - Shade Matching and Communication in Esthetic Dentistry published by Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc and written by Dr. Stephen J. Chu, Dr. Alessandro Devigus, Dr. Rade D. Paravina and Mr. Adam J. Mieleszko. and the
Wikipedia article/s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_rendering_index
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_illuminant
