News - Direct or Indirect light: which one to choose?

Defining and understanding Direct and Indirect Light

Let us first define these two types of luminaires by their distribution and then discuss each type’s pros and cons.

Direct Lighting

Direct lighting luminaires are the category of luminaires where the illumination distribution is in a specific direction. Direct lighting distribution provides higher illumination to task areas or direct accenting of objects in space.

Advantages of Direct Lighting Distribution

1. Direct lighting creates distinct shadows and makes the illuminated objects stand out to the viewer.

2. Direct lighting meets the higher illumination levels in tasks and accent areas and increases both safety and security in the higher illuminated areas.

3. When comparing equal lumen output to an indirect luminaire, direct lighting luminaires will deliver higher lumens on a given surface.

Disadvantages of Direct Lighting Distribution

1. Direct lighting can create additional shadows and uneven light patterns, causing discomfort and confusion.

2. Direct lighting can cause reflective glare in areas using visual screens, computer monitors, glass shelving displays, and glass-covered floor display cases.

3. Direct lighting’s direct glare will add additional visual stress to the viewer. The use of dimming / diffused lenses can help reduce glare and lower eye fatigue when added as an option to the direct luminaire.

Indirect Lighting

The indirect lighting luminaires, in turn, spread out their illumination distribution over a larger area. An indirect luminaire lumen distribution is light towards a reflective surface. An indirect light source illuminates the space with a reflected uniform and softer light. This illuminated space will create an atmosphere where the viewer will feel light, comfortable, and hospitable. In commercial task lighting areas, office spaces, places of education, storage areas, and medical facilities, indirect light supports improved attention and awareness of the participants.

Advantages of Direct Lighting Distribution

1. Indirect Illumination produces a more defused and evenly lit space, making the area more inviting.

2. Indirect lighting reduces shadows and direct glare, which improves the viewer’s visual comfort.

3. Indirect lighting reduces eye fatigue.

Disadvantages of Indirect Lighting Distribution

Indirect luminaires need more reflected lumens to equal the same number of lumens on the task surface below as illuminated by a direct lighting luminaire.

In conclusion, if a single luminaire can be designed to provide both direct and indirect lighting simultaneously, it represents the most perfect lighting solution. The following are several newly launched series from BVI, each engineered to deliver both Direct and Indirect Lighting.

——FIEEFLY H2280 Ultra-Slim Direct & Indirect Linear Light