Search the forums

Loading
Home › Forums › House Chat › Design Talk

adjustable accent lights

krallsa's picture

adjustable accent lights (post #200576)

krallsa on Sat, 03/26/2011 - 15:28
in

This is from my husband:  

 

I've been studying lighting design and have come across just about no information on proper angles (or range of angle) for adjustable accent lights (whether in ceiling or track).  What I've found discussed is art lighting... 30deg. most common, 25deg. if wanting mild shadows from frames and/or bringing texture out on walls, 35deg for art work with heavy frames, so frames do not cause heavy shadows.   I've found nothing but non-detailed descriptions/lighting plans for use as dining table task light and/or centerpiece accent, cross-bowl-aimed sink lighting, penninsula/island task lighting, accent lighting for objects on horizontal surfaces, etc.  I've looked and called and written and have founjd so close to nothing, it's nearly the same.   If you know about this topic, or know where detailed information about it is, I'd love to hear it.
-A +A

I've looked a few times for (post #200576, reply #1 of 3)

by DanH in reply to krallsa [original] on Sat, 03/26/2011 - 16:05

I've looked a few times for good info on this general topic and it was hard/impossible to find.

What little I know about the topic I mostly picked up in college working in a TV studio, so you might want to see if you can find something on studio lighting, since some of the same principles apply.

I gather there is some debate in the ergonomic community as to how "directed" general light sources should be -- should fixtures be set up with directional beams and minimal overlap, or should there be wide beams with a lot of overlap.  Which philosophy you adopt will have tremendous influence on how you design a lighting system (though perhaps less influence on the specifics of accent lighting).


Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.  --Herman Melville

thank you (post #200576, reply #3 of 3)

by krallsa in reply to DanH [original] on Sun, 03/27/2011 - 21:36

Thank you both for your comments.     sarah

Sir (post #200576, reply #2 of 3)

by
Moderator Badge
calvin in reply to krallsa [original] on Sat, 03/26/2011 - 20:12

Most good lighting companies that deal in hard fixtures will have detailed lighting diagrams in their full service catalogues.  While the  "pictures" of accent lighting do not................

If you're adept at it, studying the lumens and light paths out of the detailed catalogues and then applying that background to the "good looking" fixtures will produce almost the perfect lighting details. 

Don't forget to imput the  wants of the customer.

 

 

If it's anything I hate it's the designer that tells the customer what they like.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/