Light Source Spectrum Data

The emission spectrum for natural light generally follows the planck distribution in the visible part of the spectrum as we can see below.

Light source spectrum data.

Full spectrum typically refers to the completeness of a light source s spectral energy particularly when compared to natural light sources such as natural daylight. About light most objects in space give off radiate light. For example the sun and other stars are sources of white light. Visible light comprises only a tiny fraction of the entire electromagnetic radiation spectrum yet it contains the only region of frequencies to which the rods and cones of the human eye will respond.

White light can be generated by a variety of sources both in space and by artificial sources on earth. Standard illuminants provide a basis for comparing images or colors recorded under different lighting. The emission spectrum of visible light arriving at the earth s surface from the sun. Click once on the name of a spectrum in the data input section to preview the spectrum in the plotting window in light gray.

Double click the spectrum name or click the arrow to the right of the spectrum name to add the spectrum to the plotting window and the plotting legend. A standard illuminant is a theoretical source of visible light with a profile its spectral power distribution which is published. Relative spectral power distributions spds of cie illuminants a b and c from 380 nm to 780 nm. It is especially suitable as a light source for spectroscopy microscopy optical scanning and industrial uses as well as for use with sp s popular digikröm monochromators and spectrographs.

No color is dramatically favored over another although the intensity is highest in the light blue region around 460 nm. The exact spectral composition of a light source can only be determined by specialized photometric equipment such as a spectrometer. The wavelengths that humans are typically able to visualize lie in a very narrow range between approximately 400 and 700 nanometers.