Convert between candela/square meter (cd/m²), stilb, nit, lambert, and other luminance units with scientific precision.
The SI unit of luminance, defined as the luminous intensity per unit projected area in a given direction. 1 cd/m² = 1 nit. Measures the amount of visible light emitted or reflected per unit surface area.
Common uses: Display specifications (TVs, monitors, screens), lighting design, architectural lighting, and photometric measurements.
An informal SI unit equal to candela per square meter. 1 nit = 1 cd/m². Widely used in the display industry for monitor and TV brightness specifications.
Typical values: Standard office displays: 100-300 nits; bright outdoor displays: 1,000+ nits; smartphone screens: 400-800 nits.
A CGS unit of luminance. 1 stilb = 10,000 cd/m² = 10,000 nits. Rarely used in modern applications but historically important in photometry.
Application: Extremely bright light sources, arc lamps, and high-intensity displays. One stilb equals a perfectly diffuse surface reflecting all incident light.
A CGS unit of luminance equal to 1 lambert ≈ 3,183 cd/m². Represents the luminance of a perfectly diffuse surface emitting one lumen per square centimeter.
Historical context: Named after Johann Heinrich Lambert. A perfectly diffuse emitter with one lumen per square centimeter luminous intensity.
One thousandth of a lambert. 1 mL ≈ 3.18 cd/m². Used for lower luminance values in scientific and technical work.
Application: Instrument displays, medical imaging, astronomical observations, and dim light conditions.
A unit of luminance based on the foot-candle system. 1 fL ≈ 3.426 cd/m². Common in North American architectural and lighting design.
Application: Interior lighting design, architectural illumination calculations, and building lighting standards.
A unit equal to 1 asb = 0.0001 stilb = 1 cd/π·m². Used in some photometric applications and scientific work.
Application: Specialized photometry, optical system design, and scientific research in light measurement.