Candela per square metre

The candela per square metre (symbol: cd/m2) is the unit of luminance in the International System of Units (SI). The unit is based on the candela, the SI unit of luminous intensity, and the square metre, the SI unit of area.

Candela per square metre
Unit systemSI
Unit ofluminance
Symbolcd/m2
In SI base units:cd·m−2

The nit (symbol: nt) is a non-SI name also used for this unit (1 nt = 1 cd/m2).[1] The term nit is believed to come from the Latin word nitēre, "to shine".[2]

As a measure of light emitted per unit area, this unit is frequently used to specify the brightness of a display device. The sRGB spec for monitors targets 80 cd/m2.[3] Typically, monitors calibrated for SDR broadcast or studio color grading should have a brightness of 100 cd/m2.[4] Most consumer desktop liquid crystal displays have luminances of 200 to 300 cd/m2.[5] HDR displays range from around 400 to 2500 cd/m2.[6]

Comparison with other units of luminance

edit

One candela per square metre is equal to:

Units of luminance
cd/m2 (SI unit)
≡ nit ≡ lm/m2/sr
stilb (sb) (CGS unit)
≡ cd/cm2
apostilb (asb)
≡ blondel
brilskot (sk)lambert (L)foot-lambert (fL)
= 1 ⁄ π cd/ft2
1 cd/m2=110−4π
≈ 3.142
107 π
≈ 3.142×107
103 π
≈ 3.142×103
10−4 π
≈ 3.142×10−4
0.30482 π
≈ 0.2919
1 sb=1041104 π
≈ 3.142×104
1011 π
≈ 3.142×1011
107 π
≈ 3.142×107
π
≈ 3.142
30.482 π
≈ 2919
1 asb=1 ⁄ π
≈ 0.3183
10−4π
≈ 3.183×10−5
110710310−40.30482
≈ 0.09290
1 bril=10−7π
≈ 3.183×10−8
10−11π
≈ 3.183×10−12
10−7110−410−110.30482×10−7
≈ 9.290×10−9
1 sk=10−3π
≈ 3.183×10−4
10−7π
≈ 3.183×10−8
10−3104110−70.30482×10−3
≈ 9.290×10−5
1 L=104π
≈ 3183
1 ⁄ π
≈ 0.3183
104101110710.30482×104
≈ 929.0
1 fL=1 ⁄ 0.30482π
≈ 3.426
1 ⁄ 30.482π
≈ 3.426×10−4
1 ⁄ 0.30482
≈ 10.76
107 ⁄ 0.30482
≈ 1.076×108
103 ⁄ 0.30482
≈ 1.076×104
10−4 ⁄ 0.30482
≈ 1.076×10−3
1

See also

edit

QuantityUnitDimension
[nb 1]
Notes
NameSymbol[nb 2]NameSymbol
Luminous energyQv[nb 3]lumen secondlm⋅sTJThe lumen second is sometimes called the talbot.
Luminous flux, luminous powerΦv[nb 3]lumen (= candela steradian)lm (= cd⋅sr)JLuminous energy per unit time
Luminous intensityIvcandela (= lumen per steradian)cd (= lm/sr)JLuminous flux per unit solid angle
LuminanceLvcandela per square metrecd/m2 (= lm/(sr⋅m2))L−2JLuminous flux per unit solid angle per unit projected source area. The candela per square metre is sometimes called the nit.
IlluminanceEvlux (= lumen per square metre)lx (= lm/m2)L−2JLuminous flux incident on a surface
Luminous exitance, luminous emittanceMvlumen per square metrelm/m2L−2JLuminous flux emitted from a surface
Luminous exposureHvlux secondlx⋅sL−2TJTime-integrated illuminance
Luminous energy densityωvlumen second per cubic metrelm⋅s/m3L−3TJ
Luminous efficacy (of radiation)Klumen per wattlm/WM−1L−2T3JRatio of luminous flux to radiant flux
Luminous efficacy (of a source)η[nb 3]lumen per wattlm/WM−1L−2T3JRatio of luminous flux to power consumption
Luminous efficiency, luminous coefficientV1Luminous efficacy normalized by the maximum possible efficacy
See also:
  1. ^ The symbols in this column denote dimensions; "L", "T" and "J" are for length, time and luminous intensity respectively, not the symbols for the units litre, tesla and joule.
  2. ^ Standards organizations recommend that photometric quantities be denoted with a subscript "v" (for "visual") to avoid confusion with radiometric or photon quantities. For example: USA Standard Letter Symbols for Illuminating Engineering USAS Z7.1-1967, Y10.18-1967
  3. ^ a b c Alternative symbols sometimes seen: W for luminous energy, P or F for luminous flux, and ρ for luminous efficacy of a source.

References

edit
edit