The Theory of Luminance

The Theory of Luminance explains how we perceive brightness from light emitted or reflected by objects. Luminance is a measure of how much light an object appears to emit or reflect toward our eyes, influencing how bright it looks. It depends on both the intensity of the light and the surface's properties. Our visual system interprets luminance differences to distinguish objects and scenes, helping us judge depth, texture, and spatial relationships. Essentially, luminance is a key factor in visual perception, affecting how we see the world’s brightness and contrast.