Accent lighting is a method of lighting used, for example, to highlight artworks, architectural elements or special areas in a room. The accentuation is achieved by a higher luminance, meaning greater brightness, or by changing the light colour. For this purpose, luminaires with directional light such as track spotlights, recessed spotlights or projectors are usually used – these are predestined to direct the focus onto specific objects or areas in the space.
First and foremost, accentuation generally means emphasising or highlighting. With accent lighting, this accentuation is achieved by means of light directed primarily at specific points and thus via greater brightness or a different light colour.
Lighting effects can be enhanced by coloured light. Strong colour contrasts increase the brightness contrasts. High contrasts in brightness, in turn, increase the colour contrasts. Natural overall effects are created by warm light colours and filter colours such as skin tone, magenta and amber or cool light colours such as sky blue and night blue.
Coloured light accents are mainly used for exhibitions, trade fair stands and sales spaces.
Accent lighting for the modelling of objects is mainly used in
Directed light from the front leads to low modelling with little spatial depth. Light from above creates a strong inherent shadow on the object. Light from behind traces the silhouette. The steeper the light falls, the stronger is the shadow effect.
Accent light makes objects look very three-dimensional. The use of several spotlights reduces the contrasts between light and dark on the object. Structures become more legible as a result. Equally strong illumination from different sides creates a low three-dimensional effect. Differentiating the illuminance into an intense main light, a lower fill-in light and a certain amount of back light achieves a balanced effect. This lighting concept makes objects appear three-dimensional and ensures good legibility of the shadowed areas. The main light can be used to highlight an important area. If objects are viewed from all sides, the backlight helps to better recognise structures on the rear of the object. Diffuse light, from a luminous ceiling for example, can also balance strong light-dark contrasts from accent light and make objects appear softer. Illumination only with undirected, diffuse light creates hardly any shadow and leads to a low three-dimensional effect.
The steeper the light falls, the stronger is shadow effect. Objects can be illuminated with a light direction from 5° to 45° to the vertical. The optimum light direction for illuminating objects is 30°. Strong reflections or unwanted body shadows are avoided.
