Abstract

Without illumination, there is no imaging, and with improper illumination, image properties are not as desired. The importance of illumination will be demonstrated by showing images of various objects illuminated in different ways. The art and science of illumination can be divided into two parts: illumination design, ascertaining what is desirable, and illumination engineering, determining how to get it. There are several major themes in illumination science, including uniformity, directionality, and efficiency. And there are basic limitations, e.g., those of thermodynamics.

© 1989 Optical Society of America