Crestron Lighting Design Guide
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Silhouetting
To emphasize the shape of the object as a silhouette, soften or even eliminate the key light and
directional fill light, and instead provide only fill light, either intense or diffused, depending on the
clarity of the silhouette and the drama you want to produce.
Uplighting
The effect of uplighting is either very desirable or very undesirable because it is unusual. Effects
range from intimate to eerie. A lot of landscape lighting includes uplighting to accentuate bushes
and trees.
Sparkle And Glitter Effects
Adding little lighting points of interest in the form of sparkle or glitter creates an atmosphere of
elegance. This effect can be produced by either producing sharp reflections on specular surfaces in
the room (sparkle), such as silverware in a restaurant, or by making the light source itself a source
of interest (glitter) such as with a chandelier. Beware of unintended glare in such cases.
Grazing And Washing Surfaces
On walls or on the surface of an object, change the way light impacts to produce different effects.
For example, emphasizing a brick wall with a rough texture. Graze the surface with light striking
the surface at a sharp angle. In this case, the light source is positioned close to the wall. For
smooth walls, wash the surface with light striking the surface at a wider angle.
Switch and Dimmer Locations
The proper location for a switch or dimmer is a function of code requirements (the National
Electrical Code establishes some specific locations where control devices are required) and
common sense. For example, the code requires a wall switch adjacent to the door upon entry to a
room. But you can also add a switch in a preferred location, such as next to the bed.
Another choice available today, are motion sensors that automatically switch lights. Motion
sensors turn off lights when the room is empty, and they are especially efficient devices in spaces
like garages, utility rooms and other spaces where lights are only needed occasionally and are
often left on inadvertently.
Crestron offers the most technologically sophisticated products that permit handheld remote
dimming, whole house master controls, wireless touchpanel control, and many other possibilities.
Color Temperature
Color temperature is the color of the light source. By convention, yellow-red colors (like the
flames of a fire) are considered warm, and blue-green colors (like light from an overcast sky) are
considered cool. Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) temperature. Confusingly, higher
Kelvin temperatures (36005500 K) are what we consider cool and lower color temperatures
(27003000 K) are considered warm. Cool light is preferred for visual tasks because it produces
higher contrast than warm light. Warm light is preferred for living spaces because it is more
flattering to skin tones and clothing. A color temperature of 27003600 K is generally
recommended for most indoor general and task lighting applications.