FAQ
Q1. WHAT IS LIGHT DISTRIBUTION?
It describes the direction and strength of light emitted by a light fixture, what is commonly referred to as a beam of light.
Q2. WHAT IS A LIGHT DISTRIBUTION FILE?
It is a file that contains the numeric data of light distribution, used for lux calculations and computer graphics. There are two formats: IES and LDT.
Q3. WHERE CAN WE OBTAIN LIGHT DISTRIBUTION FILES?
They are available to download from lighting manufacturers' websites.
Q4. WHY USE LIGHT DISTRIBUTION FILES
TO MAKE A COMPARISON?
It makes it easier to search and compare the performances of light fixtures. Light distributions (the shape of light) may not be similar even though the appearances (the shape of a product) look similar. There is no need to obtain & turn on actual light fixture samples or simulate lighting effects through 3D modeling You can assess the similarity of light distributions.
Q5. I CAN'T READ LIGHT DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAMS.
CAN I USE FUNNEL?
Yes, you can. FUNNEL calculates how similar light distributions are and show the similarity as a percentage.
Q6. WHEN COULD THIS BE USEFUL?
When you need to find alternative light fixtures without compromising the design intent or the lighting effect as much as possible:
・To use low price lights to keep costs down
・To use ex-stock lights to meet the delivery date
・To use smaller lights as they won't fit on site
・To reduce power consumption while maintaining brightness
・Replacing broken lights, the model used previously has been discontinued
・Difficul to review samples because of a remote site or a short timeline
・To set clear criteria for a tender evaluation
Q7. SHOULD WE CHECK ONLY LIGHT DISTRIBUTION?
No. There are other performance aspects to consider as well, in particular, color temperature and color rendering, which are important as they affect lighting effects. Light fixture dimensions also affect how the fixtures are mounted, and water-proofing affects the choice of installation location.
Q9. DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN ITEMS?
Different lighting manufacturers have different rules for data input. For example, some lighting manufacturers record power consumption as well as other data. Some manufacturers also mix the data for light sources and light fixtures.
Q10. WHAT IS A COMPATIBLE DEVICE?
You can use FUNNEL only on a computer. It is not compatible with tablets and smartphones. And also, we recommend a display that is larger than 1920 x 1080px.
Q11. WHICH WEB BROWSER IS RECOMMENDED?
We recommend Chrome.