Decorative Area Lights: Sculpting with Light and Shadow Decorative area lights, such as bollards and path lights, serve multiple purposes depending on their placement:

Reflective polarizers transmit the desired polarization while reflecting the rest. Wire grid polarizers are a common example of this, consisting of many thin wires arranged parallel to each other. The light that is polarized along these wires is reflected, while light that is polarized perpendicular to these wires is transmitted. Other reflective polarizers use Brewster’s angle. Brewster’s angle is a specific angle of incidence under which only s-polarized light is reflected. The reflected beam is s-polarized and the transmitted beam becomes partially p-polarized.

Once the analyzer has been aligned perpendicularly to the polarizer, an anisotropic, or birefringent, the specimen is placed on the specimen stage. The specimen rotates the polarized light a designated amount, proportional to the specimen thickness (and thus the optical path distance) and the specimen birefringence, before its light reaches the analyzer.

Understanding and manipulating the polarization of light is crucial for many optical applications. Optical design frequently focuses on the wavelength and intensity of light, while neglecting its polarization. Polarization, however, is an important property of light that affects even those optical systems that do not explicitly measure it. The polarization of light affects the focus of laser beams, influences the cut-off wavelengths of filters, and can be important to prevent unwanted back reflections. It is essential for many metrology applications such as stress analysis in glass or plastic, pharmaceutical ingredient analysis, and biological microscopy. Different polarizations of light can also be absorbed to different degrees by materials, an essential property for LCD screens, 3D movies, and glare-reducing sunglasses.

Create New Beauty: Use light and shadow creatively to sculpt new visual elements, turning your outdoor space into an artistic canvas.

Ring light guides are popular illumination sources due to their even, diffuse illumination. However, glare or reflection of the ring itself may occur. Polarizing the ring light output and the lens separately can reduce these effects, and bring out surface details as seen in Figure 9.

In the tranquil embrace of the night, landscape lighting creates a mesmerizing outdoor oasis of beauty and enhanced security. However, the question

Understanding your property and identifying key areas to focus on can transform your home or business into a dream landscape. If you’re unsure where to start, collaborating with a professional lighting designer, like those at Moonglow Lightscapes, can make a significant difference. Professionals perform initial consultations and install temporary lighting designs, allowing you to witness firsthand what shadowing and silhouetting can do for your space.

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In Figure 5, a linear polarizer was placed in front of the lens in a machine vision system to remove obfuscating glare such that an electronic chip could be clearly seen. The left image (without polarizer) shows randomly polarized light scattering off of the many glass surfaces between the object and the camera sensor. Much of the chip is obscured by Fresnel reflection of the unpolarized light. The image on the right (with polarizer) shows the chip without glare obscuring any of the object details, allowing the chip to be viewed, analyzed, and measured without obstruction.

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Light is an electromagnetic wave, and the electric field of this wave oscillates perpendicularly to the direction of propagation. Light is called unpolarized if the direction of this electric field fluctuates randomly in time. Many common light sources such as sunlight, halogen lighting, LED spotlights, and incandescent bulbs produce unpolarized light. If the direction of the electric field of light is well defined, it is called polarized light. The most common source of polarized light is a laser.

In order to select a specific polarization of light, polarizers are used. Polarizers can be broadly divided into reflective, dichroic, and birefringent polarizers. More detailed information on which type of polarizer is right for your application can be found in our Polarizer Selection Guide.

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In conclusion, the play of light and shadow is a powerful tool in creating a visually appealing outdoor space. Landscape lighting techniques, from shadowing to silhouetting, open up a realm of artistic possibilities. Whether you’re revealing the beauty already present or creating new beauty through light and shadow, the result is an enchanting canvas that transforms your outdoors into a masterpiece.

Edmund Optics® offers a wide variety of polarizers, waveplates, polarizing beamsplitters, and other polarization-manipulating optics.

Reveal Existing Beauty: Illuminate the inherent beauty of your landscape, from architectural features to unique yard elements.

The angular difference between the axes of polarization of the two polarizers is directly related to the amount of overall light attenuation of the set of polarizers. By changing the angle offset, the optical density of the polarizer set can be varied, achieving a similar effect to using a neutral density filter. This ensures that the overall field is evenly illuminated.

Hot spots are highly reflective portions of a field within a more diffuse reflecting field. In Figure 8, a polarizer is placed in front of the lens of a camera as well as over the light source illuminating the scene to reduce hot spots.

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By cross-polarizing light with two linear polarizers that are oriented perpendicularly, hot spots can be reduced or eliminated altogether.

Beyond shadowing and silhouetting, there are other techniques that outdoor lighting designers use to create ambiance and drama:

Dichroic polarizers absorb a specific polarization of light, transmitting the rest; modern nanoparticle polarizers are dichroic polarizers.

Birefringent polarizers rely on the dependence of the refractive index on the polarization of light. Different polarizations will refract at different angles and this can be used to select certain polarizations of light.

Many different types of microscopy techniques such as differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy utilize polarizers to achieve a variety of effects.

Silhouetting lighting design plays with positive and negative space, making the darker, recessed portions the focal point. By backlighting a background, whether a house, wall, or fence, the plant or feature in front appears dark against the well-lit background, creating a stunning silhouette. This technique adds drama and depth to a property, especially when highlighting unique plant life with intriguing forms and structures.

Unpolarized light can be considered a rapidly varying random combination of p- and s-polarized light. An ideal linear polarizer will only transmit one of the two linear polarizations, reducing the initial unpolarized intensity I0 by half,

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For a long time, light was merely a functional necessity in our daily lives. However, over time, artists and designers globally have delved into the study of light’s properties and its ability to accentuate shapes and textures. Today, we witness the evolution of light into an art form known as luminism or light art. This transformative approach uses light as the “paintbrush” to either produce illuminated sculptures or craft “sculptures” through the interplay of light, colors, and shadows. In the realm of outdoor spaces, this artistry finds expression in landscape lighting techniques, particularly shadowing and silhouetting, which create visually appealing and emotionally inspiring designs.

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Another characteristic way to see how polarizers reduce reflective glare is by viewing water surfaces. In Figure 7, the surface of the water appears reflective in the left image, obscuring what is below the surface. On the right, however, the rocky debris on the floor of the body of water is much more clearly visible.

Moon Glow did lighting on our deck and did an amazing job!!! Not only was the final job fantastic, but the team was so friendly and helpful!

The two orthogonal linear polarization states that are most important for reflection and transmission are referred to as p- and s-polarization. P-polarized (from the German parallel) light has an electric field polarized parallel to the plane of incidence, while s-polarized (from the German senkrecht) light is perpendicular to this plane.

Figure 11 shows a photo taken of Edmund Optics Headquarters and the variation in the color of the sky, grass, and foliage from using or not using a polarizer in front of a camera lens. Because electrons in air molecules scatter light in many directions, the appearance of the sky without a polarizer is a lighter shade of blue, as seen in the left image (without polarizer). Additionally, the surface of leaves of trees and on blades of grass are very slightly reflective. Using a polarizer filters out some of the light reflected from these surfaces, darkening the perceived color of these surfaces.

The analyzer only transmits light that has experienced a specimen-induced phase shift and continues to block all the unaffected light from the source which was originally polarized by the polarizer. If the birefringence of the specimen is known, it can then be used to determine the specimen thickness. If the specimen thickness is known, it can be used to deduce the birefringence of the specimen. A convenient chart used for this purpose is known as the Michel-Levy interference color chart in Figure 14.

These lights project their patterns 360 degrees, both downward and upward, making them versatile for creating artistic, geometric patterns. Proper placement, especially near walls or large surfaces, maximizes the visual impact of these patterns, turning your outdoor space into an enchanting wonderland.

Polarization control is also very important in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries. Many important organic chemical compounds, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients or sugars, have multiple orientations. The study of molecules with multiple orientations is called stereochemistry.

Path & Spread Lighting: Illuminates sidewalks, stone pathways, and lawn walkways while adding intrigue to boulders and plant beds.

For linearly polarized light with intensity I0, the intensity transmitted through an ideal polarizer, I, can be described by Malus’ law,

Landscape lighting isn’t merely about functionality; it’s an art form that reveals and creates beauty. The two primary ways to make landscape lighting beautiful are:

Moonglow Lightscapes understands the transformative power of lighting techniques. Two notable techniques that elevate the outdoor experience are shadowing and silhouetting in outdoor lighting.

Outdoor LED lights are among the most popular options for illuminating outdoor spaces and home exteriors. They are known for their long

Deck & Patio Lighting: Accentuates the beauty of decks, patios, outdoor kitchens, steps, handrails, and other vertical features.

Implementing polarization control can be useful in a variety of imaging applications. Polarizers are placed over a light source, lens, or both, to eliminate glare from light scattering, increase contrast, and eliminate hot spots from reflective objects. This either brings out more intense color or contrast or helps to better identify surface defects or other otherwise hidden structures.

Depending on your application, whether it’s xeriscape lighting, path and spread lighting, or deck and patio lighting, there are specific techniques tailored to create the desired effect:

In a simple polarization microscope system, a linear polarizer is placed in front of a microscope light source, below the specimen stage, to polarize the light entering the system. Another linear polarizer placed above the specimen stage is referred to as an “analyzer,” as this polarizer is rotated to achieve the desired effect when analyzing the sample and while the first polarizer is kept stationary. The analyzer is then rotated such that the polarization planes of the analyzer and polarizer are 90° apart. When this has been achieved, the microscope has a minimum transmission (crossed polarizers); the amount of light transmission will be proportional to the extinction ratio of the polarizer and analyzer.

In amorphous solids such as glass and plastic, stress from temperature and pressure profiles in the material imparts localized variations and gradients in the material properties, making the material birefringent and nonhomogeneous. This can be quantified in transparent objects using the photoelastic effect, as stress and its related birefringence can be measured with polarized light methodologies.

Unstressed clear objects between crossed polarizers should yield a completely dark field, however, when internal material stress is present, the localized changes in refractive index rotate the angle of polarization, resulting in transmission variations.

One accessible way to bring this artistry into your hands is through decorative area lights. These fixtures are captivating not only during the day but also when lit, project intricate patterns of light and shadows, setting the mood and providing ambiance. Bollards and path lights, adorned with intricate designs, exemplify how well-designed lighting can create impressive visual elements.

Shadowing involves placing lights strategically to cast shadows of trees, statues, or other features against a wall or background. This technique is particularly popular for lighting trees, shrubbery, and sculptures. Different angles create diverse effects, and when a tree or plant is highlighted, the movement reflected in the shadow becomes mesmerizing. Professional lighting designers understand how to utilize shadowing to bring out the best in your property, highlighting areas you might not have considered.

Where θ is the angle between the incident linear polarization and the polarization axis. We see that for parallel axes, 100% transmission is achieved, while for 90° axes, also known as crossed polarizers, there is 0% transmission. In real-world applications the transmission never reaches exactly 0%, therefore, polarizers are characterized by an extinction ratio, which can be used to determine the actual transmission through two crossed polarizers.

Molecular compounds that have the same type and number of atoms, but different molecular arrangements are called stereoisomers. These stereoisomers are “optically active” and will rotate polarized light in different directions. The amount of rotation is determined by the nature and the concentration of the compound, allowing polarimetry to detect and quantify the concentration of these compounds. This is the premise for identifying which stereoisomer may be present in a sample, which is important because stereoisomers can have vastly different chemical effects. For example, the stereoisomer limonene is the chemical that gives oranges and lemons their characteristic scents.

While polarizers select certain polarizations of light, discarding the other polarizations, ideal waveplates modify existing polarizations without attenuating, deviating, or displacing the beam. They do this by retarding (or delaying) one component of polarization with respect to its orthogonal component. To help you determine which waveplate is best for your application, read Understanding Waveplates. Correctly chosen waveplates can convert any polarization state into a new polarization state and are most often used to rotate linear polarization, to convert linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light, or vice versa.

The same phenomenon can be seen in the Figure 6. In the left image (without polarizer), unpolarized light from the sun is interacting with the windows of the Edmund Optics building and most of this light is reflecting off the windows. In the right image, a polarizing filter has been applied such that the reflected light, rich in one polarization type, is being blocked from the camera sensor and the photographer, using the other polarization type, can see into the building more easily.

For a free consultation and to discover the magic of shadowing and silhouetting, contact Moonglow Lightscapes today. Your dream landscape lighting design is just a click away.