In industrial colorimetry of QA non-luminous materials, assumptions are made that light reflected from or transmitted through a surface is relatively uniform, with only diffuse and specular components. To promote inter-instrument agreement, the CIE geometries for collecting the reflected or transmitted signal of non-luminous materials are standardized into directional and diffuse sphere types.
BRDF measurement serves as more of a research tool when you want to precisely quantify the pattern of light reflecting from a sample surface, or the pattern of light being transmitted through a clear material. Typical materials would be coated surfaces, plastics, films and metals.
Another major application area for BRDF measurement is quantifying the illumination pattern from self luminous light sources such as LEDs and HID lamps; and luminaires such as automotive displays, and architectural lighting.
HunterLab does not make BRDF/BSDF equipment but here are some further resources for equipment and measurement services:
Lighting Sciences Inc.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 USA
+480.991-9260
www.lightingsciences.com
LabSphere, Inc.
North Sutton, NH 03260 USA
+603-927-4266
www.labsphere.com
Radiant Zemax
Redmond, WA 98053 USA
+425-844-0152
www.radiantzemax.com
KU Leuven, dept ESAT, Technologiecampus Gent (KAHO Sint-Lieven)
Light & Lighting Laboratory
Gebroeders De Smetstraat 1, 9000 Gent (Belgium)
+32 9 265 87 13
www.lichttechnologie.be
Mr. Philips has spent the last 30 years in product development and management, technical sales, marketing, and business development in several industries. Today, he is the global market development manager for HunterLab, focused on understanding customer needs, providing appropriate solutions and education, and helping to solve customer color challenges across these industries and cultures.