Candela per square metre
The candela per square metre (cd/m2) is the derived SI unit of luminance. The unit is based on the candela, the SI unit of luminous intensity, and the square metre, the SI unit of area.
Nit (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 nitere, 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, calibrated monitors should have a brightness of 120 cd/m2. Most consumer desktop liquid crystal displays have luminances of 200 to 300 cd/m2.[4] The iPad Pro 9.7 claimed in March 2016 to have the highest luminance of any tablet at 500 nits.[5] High-definition televisions range from 450 to about 1000 cd/m2.
Comparison to other units of luminance
One candela per square metre is equal to:
- 10−4 stilbs (the CGS unit of luminance)
- π×10−4 lamberts
- π apostilbs
- 0.292 foot-lamberts
- π×103 skots
- π×107 brils
- 1 nit
See also
| Quantity | Unit | Dimension [nb 1] |
Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Symbol[nb 2] | Name | Symbol | ||
| Luminous energy | Qv[nb 3] | lumen second | lm⋅s | T⋅J | The lumen second is sometimes called the talbot. |
| Luminous flux, luminous power | Φv[nb 3] | lumen (= candela steradian) | lm (= cd⋅sr) | J | Luminous energy per unit time |
| Luminous intensity | Iv | candela (= lumen per steradian) | cd (= lm/sr) | J | Luminous flux per unit solid angle |
| Luminance | Lv | candela per square metre | cd/m2 (= lm/(sr⋅m2)) | L−2⋅J | Luminous flux per unit solid angle per unit projected source area. The candela per square metre is sometimes called the nit. |
| Illuminance | Ev | lux (= lumen per square metre) | lx (= lm/m2) | L−2⋅J | Luminous flux incident on a surface |
| Luminous exitance, luminous emittance | Mv | lumen per square metre | lm/m2 | L−2⋅J | Luminous flux emitted from a surface |
| Luminous exposure | Hv | lux second | lx⋅s | L−2⋅T⋅J | Time-integrated illuminance |
| Luminous energy density | ωv | lumen second per cubic metre | lm⋅s/m3 | L−3⋅T⋅J | |
| Luminous efficacy (of radiation) | K | lumen per watt | lm/W | M−1⋅L−2⋅T3⋅J | Ratio of luminous flux to radiant flux |
| Luminous efficacy (of a source) | η[nb 3] | lumen per watt | lm/W | M−1⋅L−2⋅T3⋅J | Ratio of luminous flux to power consumption |
| Luminous efficiency, luminous coefficient | V | 1 | Luminous efficacy normalized by the maximum possible efficacy | ||
| See also: | |||||
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ Buser, Pierre; Imbert, Michel (1992). Vision. MIT Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-262-02336-8.
- ^ Boyd, RLF, ed. (1992). Astronomical Photometry. Springer. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-7923-1653-4.
- ^ "Multimedia systems and equipment – Colour measurement and management – Part 2-1: Colour management – Default RGB colour space – sRGB". International Electrotechnical Commission. 1999. IEC 61966-2-1.
- ^ "PC Perspective".
- ^ "Apple iPad Pro 9.7 launch".