SURFACE REFLECTANCE
The aim of this interactive diagram is to illustrate the relationship between the reflectance and specularity properties of an opaque surface and the resulting angular distribution of reflected light or radiation. With it, you can interactively adjust the angle of the incident beam as well as the two properties to see the changes this has on the resulting reflected energy.
This tool was developed to form part of the Performative Design Specularity definition page.
When people think of reflection, they usually think only of mirror-like or specular reflections from shiny surfaces. However, completely matte surfaces also reflect light and radiation, but do so diffusely where the light or radiation is distributed over a wide range of directions rather than just a single direction.
This interactive illustration represents a cross-section through the interface between air at the top and an opaque material at the bottom. When a light beam coming from the selected direction strikes the material, some portion of it will be reflected. The amount of the light energy reflected depends upon the Reflectance property of the material’s surface. The amounts of energy reflected in a specular or diffuse direction depends on it’s Specularity surface property.