Luminance Converter

Luminance is a crucial aspect of lighting and optics, representing the intensity of light emitted or reflected from a surface. It is the measure of the brightness of an object and is an essential parameter in various fields such as photography, cinematography, and lighting design.

Luminance is measured in various units, and the ability to convert between these units is crucial for professionals working in these fields. In this article, we will explore the key units of luminance and their conversion factors to simplify the conversion process.

• Candela per square meter (cd/m²): The candela per square meter (cd/m²) is the SI unit of luminance. The unit is based on the candela, the SI unit of luminous intensity, and the square metre, the SI unit of area.
  Conversion Factor: 1 cd/m² = 1 cd/m² (Base Unit)

• Candela per square centimeter (cd/cm²): A smaller unit, used to measure the luminous intensity in candela, emitted from an area of one square centimeter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 cd/cm² = 10,000 cd/m²

• Candela per square foot (cd/ft²): Luminance can also be expressed in candela per square foot, offering an alternative unit for measuring intensity in the imperial system.
  Conversion Factor: 1 cd/ft² = 10.7639 nt

• Candela per square inch (cd/in²): Similar to cd/ft², this unit measures luminance in terms of candela per square inch.
  Conversion Factor: 1 cd/in² = 1,550.003 nt

• Stilb (sb): The stilb is a unit of luminance in the CGS system. It is defined as one candela per square centimeter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 sb = 1 cd/cm² = 10,000 cd/m²

• Lumen per square meter per steradian (lm/m²/sr): This unit represents luminous flux per unit solid angle and area. It is an equivalent unit to the candela per square meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 lm/m²/sr = 1 cd/m²

• Lumen per square centimeter per steradian (lm/cm²/sr): An equivalent unit to the candela per square centimeter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 lm/cm²/sr = 10,000 cd/m²

• Lumen per square foot per steradian (lm/ft²/sr): An equivalent unit to the candela per square foot.
  Conversion Factor: 1 lm/ft²/sr = 10.7639 cd/ft²

• Nit (nt): The nit is a unit of luminance equivalent to one candela per square meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 nt = 1 cd/m²

• Millinit (mnt): This is a smaller unit, equivalent to one thousandth of a nit.
  Conversion Factor: 1 mnt = 0.001 nt = 0.001 cd/m²

• Lambert (L): The Lambert is a unit of luminance equal to 1 ⁄ π, or ≈ 0.31831 candela per square centimeter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 L = 0.31831 cd/cm² = 3,183.1 cd/m²

• Millilambert (mL): A smaller unit, representing one thousandth of a Lambert.
  Conversion Factor: 1 mL = 0.001 L = 3.1831 cd/m²

• Foot-lambert (fL): A foot-lambert is a unit of luminance used mostly in the United States. It equals to 1/π or 0.3183 candela per square foot, or 3.426 candela per square meter.
  Conversion Factor: 1 fL = 0.3183 cd/ft² = 3.426 cd/m²

Using this Luminance Converter Tool, professionals can easily convert luminance values from one unit to another, ensuring accuracy and consistency in their work. Whether designing lighting systems, capturing images, or working with displays, understanding luminance and having the right conversion tool is indispensable.