What units can I convert using this tool?

You can convert between luminance units such as candela per square meter, nit, candela per square centimeter, foot-lambert, lambert, stilb, and others listed.

Is nit the same as candela per square meter?

Yes, nit is a non-SI term equal to one candela per square meter and commonly used in display brightness specifications.

Are conversions affected by real-world lighting conditions?

No, the conversions assume ideal uniform luminance and do not account for factors like ambient light or surface reflectance.

Online Luminance Units Converter

Learn how to convert from other 18 luminance units to candela/square meter

What Is This Tool?

This tool allows you to convert luminance measurements between various units used in lighting, display technology, and vision science. It supports units such as candela per square meter, nits, foot-lamberts, and several others by using exact conversion factors.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the luminance value you want to convert
Select the source unit of your measurement
Choose the target unit for the conversion
Click the convert button to receive the converted result

Key Features

Supports many luminance units including SI, CGS, and U.S. customary units
Uses precise unit-to-unit and π-based conversion factors
Includes common units like candela per square meter, nit, and foot-lambert
Provides conversion relevant for display brightness and optical applications

Examples

1 foot-lambert (fL) equals approximately 3.426 candela per square meter (cd/m²)
1 stilb (sb) corresponds to 10,000 candela per square meter (cd/m²)

Common Use Cases

Converting display brightness values for screen calibration
Lighting engineering and design computations
Projector brightness and screen luminance adjustments
Optical system design and analysis
Research in human vision and low-light conditions

Tips & Best Practices

Use this tool for idealized uniform luminance conversions only
Always verify units before converting to avoid errors
Consider ambient lighting and surface reflectance when interpreting results
Round the converted values appropriately for your engineering or optical requirements

Limitations

Does not account for real-world factors like surface reflectance variations
Assumes luminance emissions are uniform and idealized
Conversion ignores ambient lighting and measurement angle effects

Frequently Asked Questions

What units can I convert using this tool?: You can convert between luminance units such as candela per square meter, nit, candela per square centimeter, foot-lambert, lambert, stilb, and others listed.
Is nit the same as candela per square meter?: Yes, nit is a non-SI term equal to one candela per square meter and commonly used in display brightness specifications.
Are conversions affected by real-world lighting conditions?: No, the conversions assume ideal uniform luminance and do not account for factors like ambient light or surface reflectance.

Key Terminology

Candela per Square Meter (cd/m²): The SI unit for luminance, also known as nits, representing luminous intensity per area.
Foot-Lambert (fL): A U.S. customary unit of luminance used for screen brightness, equal to 1 over π candela per square foot.
Lambert (L): A CGS unit of luminance equivalent to 1 over π candela per square centimeter.

Quick Knowledge Check

Which unit is equivalent to one candela per square meter?

Foot-Lambert

Nit

Lambert

What factor is involved in converting foot-lambert to candela per square foot?

π-based constant

Square root of 2

Euler's number

Which unit is considered very low luminance used in vision science?

Skot

Stilb

Apostilb

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