Demonstration of Radiance,
a lighting simulation program, 1992
Image 321-001-002,
U.S. Department of Energy
"Millions of rays were traced to yield the glittery high-resolution image of jacks and marbles on a glass surface. [The project goal is to] demonstrate the visual effect of new lamp technologies, daylighting, and control systems by producing accurate, realistic images of illuminated spaces." (DOE caption)
Greg Ward Larson, then at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, developed the Radiance program in the early 1990s. The program moves some of the complex work of lighting design -- such as light curves, illuminance calculations, and room-cavity ratios -- from the drawing table into cyberspace. With the software's help, designers and researchers can quickly generate images of lighting effects.
© 2001 Smithsonian Institution
Last Updated: February 2000