During the day when the sun is shining, we constantly encounter brilliance. For example, on glistening water surfaces, snow crystals or morning dew. But how is brilliance actually created and how can this effect be transferred to lighting design?

The brilliance effect occurs when almost point-shaped light sources (e.g. the sun) with high luminance levels hit reflective surfaces (water surfaces). The incident light is reflected and / or refracted by the shiny material. The effect of brilliance can be emphasised particularly clearly if the diffuse lighting components are also reduced.

The high quality of jewellery or glass, for example, can therefore be impressively enhanced by directional light emitted from a point light source. Spotlights with a very narrow beam (< 10° beam angle) are therefore best suited for lighting design.

The brilliance effects are not dependent on the amount of light used, but only on the luminance of the respective light source. A narrow-beam spotlight with a light output of just 7 W can produce reflections of far greater brilliance than a diffuse LED panel with 40 W, for example, as the spotlight has a significantly higher luminance.

We show this comparison "Spot versus LED panel" in our "Expert for Lighting Design" seminar. We demonstrate various lighting scenes and discuss the different visual lighting effects together. The direct comparison enables our participants to consciously perceive the difference.

In which projects have you recently been able to realise the brilliance effect in lighting design?