Luminance Converter

Description: Luminance Unit Converter

The Luminance Unit Converter is a versatile tool designed to facilitate the conversion between various units used to measure luminance. Luminance quantifies the amount of visible light emitted or reflected by a surface per unit area in a given direction. This converter allows users to seamlessly switch between different units of luminance, aiding in calculations and comparisons in fields such as lighting design, photography, and display technology.

Formula: Luminance (L) is calculated as the quotient of luminous intensity (I) per unit solid angle (Ω) and the projected area (A): $L = \frac{I}{A \cdot Ω}$ Where:

• $L$ is the luminance,
• $I$ is the luminous intensity,
• $A$ is the projected area, and
• $Ω$ is the solid angle.

How to Convert: To convert between different units of luminance, follow these steps:

1. Determine the Initial and Target Units: Identify the unit you have and the unit you want to convert to.

2. Find Conversion Factors: Use conversion factors to convert between units. These conversion factors are based on the relationships between the units.

3. Apply the Conversion Factor: Multiply the value you want to convert by the appropriate conversion factor. If you're converting from larger units to smaller units, you'll multiply. If you're converting from smaller units to larger units, you'll divide.

4. Perform the Calculation: Apply the conversion factor to the value you want to convert to get the equivalent value in the desired unit.

Units Explanation:

1. Candela/Square Meter: Luminance expressed in candelas per square meter, a standard SI unit used to measure the brightness of a surface.

2. Candela/Square Centimeter: Luminance expressed in candelas per square centimeter, providing a more localized measure of brightness.

3. Candela/Square Foot: Luminance expressed in candelas per square foot, commonly used in engineering and architectural lighting design.

4. Candela/Square Inch: Luminance expressed in candelas per square inch, providing another unit for localized measurements.

5. Kilocandela/Square Meter: Luminance expressed in kilocandelas per square meter, used for larger-scale measurements where higher values are encountered.

6. Stilb (sb): Luminance expressed in stilbs, an older unit used in photometry, where 1 stilb equals 1 candela per square centimeter.

7. Lumen/Sq. Meter/Steradian: Luminance expressed in lumens per square meter per steradian, a measure of luminous flux per unit solid angle per unit area.

8. Lumen/Sq. cm/Steradian: Luminance expressed in lumens per square centimeter per steradian, providing a more localized measure of luminous flux per unit solid angle per unit area.

9. Lumen/Square Foot/Steradian: Luminance expressed in lumens per square foot per steradian, commonly used in lighting design and engineering.

10. Watt/Sq. cm/Steradian (at 555 nm): Luminance expressed in watts per square centimeter per steradian at a wavelength of 555 nanometers, providing a measure of radiant flux per unit solid angle per unit area.

11. Nit (nt): Luminance expressed in nits, where 1 nit equals 1 candela per square meter.

12. Millinit (mnt): Luminance expressed in millinits, providing a smaller unit of luminance measurement.

13. Lambert (L): Luminance expressed in lamberts, where 1 lambert equals $\frac{\pi}{10,000}$ candelas per square centimeter.

14. Millilambert (mL): Luminance expressed in millilamberts, providing a smaller unit of luminance measurement.

15. Foot-Lambert (fL): Luminance expressed in foot-lamberts, commonly used in the United States for displays and theatrical lighting.

16. Apostilb: Luminance expressed in apostilbs, where 1 apostilb equals 1/π candela per square centimeter.

17. Blondel: Luminance expressed in blondels, an obsolete unit of luminance equal to 1/π lambert.

18. Bril: Luminance expressed in brils, a unit used in photometry where 1 bril equals 1/π candela per square meter.

19. Skot: Luminance expressed in skots, a unit used in photometry where 1 skot equals 1/π lambert.

Understanding these units and the conversion process allows for precise measurement and manipulation of luminance across various scales and applications.

Examples:

1. Conversion from Candela/Square Meter to Nit (nt): $1\, \text{Candela/Square Meter} = 1\, \text{Nit (nt)}$ To convert 500 Candela/Square Meter to nits: $500\, \text{Candela/Square Meter} = 500\, \text{Nit (nt)}$

2. Conversion from Lumen/Square Foot/Steradian to Candela/Square Centimeter: $1\, \text{Lumen/Square Foot/Steradian} = 10.764\, \text{Candela/Square Centimeter}$ To convert 100 Lumen/Square Foot/Steradian to candelas per square centimeter: $100\, \text{Lumen/Square Foot/Steradian} = 1076.4\, \text{Candela/Square Centimeter}$

By following these steps and using appropriate conversion factors, luminance values can be accurately converted between different units.