Display-wall notes start with the vertical face
A display wall should be noted as a vertical display face, not as a whole-room brightness comment. The note should name the wall section, viewing side, mounting height, beam aim, surface finish, control state and measured check. That keeps the wall condition apart from floor movement light and from general room averages.
The vertical illuminance guide is the place for upright-face readings, while the vertical illuminance glossary keeps the term clear. The task-plane table separates floor, desk, bench, shelf and wall planes. Where the wall is part of a retail setting, the retail display lighting guide carries the display context, with the retail sector page kept as background context only.
| Display-wall field | What to write | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Wall section | Left bay, centre wall, reception wall, menu wall, feature wall or display face. | The note should identify the exact vertical face. |
| Viewing side | Aisle, queue, table, doorway, seated position or main approach. | The wall can read differently from another direction. |
| Vertical band | Lower, centre, eye-height, upper band or full wall height. | Wall-wash and accent values often vary by height. |
| Wall condition | Matte, glossy, dark, light, textured, glass-fronted or reflective. | Finish changes brightness, contrast and glare. |
| Lighting state | Normal scene, dimmed scene, daylight condition and active group. | A measured check belongs to one condition. |
Match the display-wall question
Display-wall searches often mix colour appearance, wall brightness, glare, reflection and scene control. Keep each question with the page that carries that note, then bring the notes back to the named wall face.
| Search job | First note to settle | Supporting page |
|---|---|---|
| How bright should the display wall be? | Vertical face label, point labels, measured lux and height band. | vertical illuminance guide with lux meter grid table for point sets. |
| Is the wall wash even enough? | Upper, middle and lower wall bands with edge falloff notes. | vertical illuminance guide with task-plane table for plane labels. |
| Is the accent too strong or too flat? | Highlight point, nearby background point, same scene and observer side. | lux meter reading table |
| Do colours look wrong on the wall? | CCT, CRI/Ra, wall finish, daylight mix and comparison surface. | colour quality table |
| Is glare or reflection the main problem? | Bright source view, reflected source, glossy face and observer position. | glare check guide |
| Does daylight change the wall reading? | Daylight condition, blind state, window direction and electric scene. | daylight and electric lighting guide |
| Is the issue beam placement? | Mounting height, offset from wall, beam angle, aim direction and target width. | Beam angle calculator |
Distinct wall wash, accent and room background
Wall lighting worksheets often mix three different ideas: general room light, wall wash and accent emphasis. A wall wash note describes the vertical face. Accent ratio compares a highlighted area with its surrounding background. General room light may support movement but does not describe the display face.
No single accent ratio is set by this page. Keep the ratio as a planning comparison between named surfaces, then compare the contrast with the project criteria.
| Lighting layer | Supporting page | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Room background | Floor or room plane reading from how to measure lux levels. | Does not describe the vertical face. |
| Wall wash | Vertical display face reading, height band and edge falloff. | Does not set a universal target value. |
| Accent highlight | Highlighted patch compared with nearby wall background. | Does not predict every finish or observer view. |
| Task light near wall | Desk, counter, bench or shelf plane. | Should not be merged with wall emphasis. |
| Daylight contribution | Daylight state and window direction beside the wall. | Does not represent after-dark scenes. |
Geometry and beam coverage
The wall note should keep geometry close to the value. Mounting height, wall offset, aim direction, beam angle and target width all affect whether the light reaches the intended face. The beam angle calculator and beam angle coverage table give geometric beam checks before a measured value is read.
| Geometry field | Example note | Related page |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting height | Ceiling height or track height above the target plane. | Ceiling height and beam spread |
| Wall offset | Distance from fitting line to wall face. | Beam height multipliers |
| Aim direction | Down wall, across wall, centred on artwork, shelf face or sign. | Beam angle calculator |
| Beam width | Nominal beam angle and calculated footprint. | Beam angle coverage table |
| Target size | Wall bay width, display height, sign area or vertical band. | task-plane table |
Colour-quality notes
Display-wall lighting can change the appearance of colours, finishes and faces. CCT describes the apparent warmth or coolness of the white light. CRI/Ra gives a colour-rendering cue. Neither value proves the wall is bright enough or comfortable; they belong beside the wall face and scene being judged.
The colour quality table keeps CCT, CRI/Ra and comparison notes together. The colour temperature glossary and CRI glossary keep the terms distinct.
| Surface being judged | Colour field | Extra note |
|---|---|---|
| Artwork or graphic wall | CCT, CRI/Ra and scene name. | Wall finish, daylight mix and viewing side. |
| Menu or sign wall | CCT, CRI/Ra and vertical reading. | Text contrast, glare view and control state. |
| Fabric, timber or colour-critical finish | CCT and CRI/Ra tied to the actual face. | Adjacent light colour and daylight note. |
| Mirror or glossy wall | CCT and CRI/Ra kept beside reflection notes. | Visible bright source and observer position. |
| Reception or feature wall | CCT, CRI/Ra and wall-wash state. | Background brightness and accent ratio note. |
Wall-face worksheet
A useful display-wall note has enough labels for another reading to be taken under the same condition. Name the wall, the point, the observer and the scene before interpreting the value.
| Worksheet group | Field labels | Example entry |
|---|---|---|
| Display face | Wall ID, bay, vertical band and surface finish. | W1 centre bay, middle band, matte white graphic panel. |
| Measurement points | Point code, meter orientation and height. | W1-P1 upper left, vertical meter, 1.8 m above floor. |
| Observer view | View side, distance, eye height and reflected source note. | Aisle side, 3 m back, standing eye height, track head visible in glass. |
| Scene state | Active group, dimming level, daylight condition and time note. | Wall-wash group on, accent group dimmed, blinds half closed, afternoon. |
| Colour fields | CCT, CRI/Ra and comparison surface. | 3,000 K, Ra 90, compared against adjacent timber panel. |
| Lux fields | Measured wall lux, nearby background lux and accent comparison. | W1-P2 420 lx, background W1-B1 180 lx, same scene. |
CCT, CRI/Ra and lux should remain distinct columns. CCT notes white appearance, CRI/Ra notes a colour-rendering cue, and lux notes illuminance at the named point.
Measured check and control state
A display-wall measured check should match the vertical face. A floor value nearby can support movement, but it does not replace a wall reading. Place the measurement note with the active scene, daylight condition and point labels so the reading can be repeated.
The lux meter reading table holds individual values. Where several wall points repeat across upper, middle and lower bands, the lux meter grid table can hold the point set.
| Measurement field | What to write | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Point label | Wall centre, upper left, lower right, sign centre or feature face. | A loose wall comment cannot be repeated. |
| Meter plane | Vertical meter orientation on the display face. | Horizontal floor readings are companion values only. |
| Control state | Normal, dimmed, after-dark, cleaning or daylight-assisted scene. | Values from different scenes should stay distinct. |
| Daylight note | Night, overcast, direct sun, blinds or bright adjacent window. | Daylight can change wall contrast. |
| Comparison value | Nearby background, previous reading or calculated estimate. | Does not create an exact universal target. |
| Condition pair | Keep distinct | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Daylight open and after-dark | Same wall points under distinct daylight notes. | Daylight can lift the wall face or create reflection. |
| Accent scene and general scene | Highlight and background readings in each scene. | Accent ratio changes with control state. |
| Cleaning scene and occupied scene | Full-output and normal-scene values. | Operating state changes the display impression. |
| Blinds open and blinds closed | Window direction, blind state and wall point labels. | The same CCT can read differently with daylight. |
Accent ratio without overclaiming
Accent ratio is a comparison between a highlighted wall area and its surrounding background. It can help describe emphasis, but it should stay connected to the actual face, finish, scene and observer position. A ratio that reads well on a matte light wall may not read the same way on a glossy dark wall.
| Accent-ratio note | What to compare | What remains distinct |
|---|---|---|
| Highlight to nearby wall | Centre patch against adjacent wall band. | Full-room task lighting. |
| Sign face to background | Sign or text area against surrounding wall. | Readability for every observer position. |
| Feature face to floor | Wall display against movement zone. | Floor lux target or circulation result. |
| Display wall before and after | Same wall points and same scene repeated. | All future wall layouts or finishes. |
| Daylight and after-dark pair | Same wall face under distinct scenes. | One all-day value. |
Surface finish and glare
Wall displays often create glare or reflected-source problems when the face is glossy, glass-fronted or mirror-like. Keep glare as its own note beside the wall-wash and colour-quality note. A high wall value may still be visually poor if the observer sees a bright reflected source.
| Finish condition | Note beside wall value | Related page |
|---|---|---|
| Matte light wall | Edge falloff, wall band and background comparison. | Surface reflectance planning |
| Dark wall | Contrast, accent ratio and measured wall value. | Reflectance glossary |
| Glossy paint or polished finish | Reflected source and observer direction. | glare check guide plus the glare glossary |
| Glass-fronted display | Reflected image, viewing side and daylight state. | retail display lighting guide |
| Mirror wall | Face-height view, side shadows and source reflection. | vertical illuminance guide |
| Glare or reflection field | Worksheet detail | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Observer position | Standing, seated, queue, approach or doorway view. | A wall value alone does not describe visual comfort. |
| Reflected source | Track head, downlight aperture, window patch or bright sign seen in the face. | Reflection is apart from CCT and CRI/Ra. |
| Surface angle | Flat wall, angled display, glass front, mirror or curved glossy face. | Geometry can change the view from one side. |
| Control state | Accent-only, wall-wash, daylight-assisted or dimmed scene. | Glare notes belong to the active state. |
Display-wall applications
Display walls appear in homes, offices, hospitality spaces, healthcare waiting areas, schools, apartment entries and retail settings. The note fields stay similar even when the project criteria differ: name the vertical display face, note the scene, keep colour quality distinct from brightness, and capture observer or glare notes where needed.
| Area | Display-wall question | Companion page |
|---|---|---|
| Living area | Does the wall face, artwork or media wall have a repeatable scene note? | Living room lighting |
| Office or meeting room | Does the whiteboard, screen wall or feature wall read in the task scene? | Meeting-room presentation notes |
| Hospitality area | Does the menu wall, bar back or feature wall match the dimmed scene? | hospitality lighting scenes guide |
| Retail setting | Does the wall bay carry vertical readings, colour-quality notes and glare checks? | retail display lighting guide |
| Apartment common area | Does a sign, number or notice wall have a measured vertical note? | apartment mailroom and parcel guide |
| School or clinic | Does a display, notice or reception wall have a clearly named plane? | classroom whiteboard guide or office reception waiting notes |
Energy and operating notes stay beside the wall
If the display wall has its own lighting group, keep connected load and operating hours distinct from the visual note. The lighting control table names the scene and active group, while connected load table and operating-hours lighting schedules keep energy assumptions traceable.
| Energy field | What to note | Visual boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Active group | Wall wash row, accent row, sign group or after-hours group. | Does not prove the wall value. |
| Connected load | Fitting count and watts for the wall group. | Distinct from CCT, CRI/Ra and glare. |
| Operating hours | Trading, occupied, after-hours or display scene hours. | Does not change the measured vertical face. |
| Dimming state | Normal scene and full-output fallback. | Should be paired with measured checks if compared. |
| Annual estimate | kWh from load and hours where needed. | Keep beside, not inside, the wall-wash result. |
Compact display-wall worksheet
| Worksheet item | Display-wall detail |
|---|---|
| Vertical face | Wall bay, sign face, graphic wall, artwork wall, menu wall or feature face. |
| Geometry | Mounting height, wall offset, beam angle, aim direction and target size. |
| Wall wash | Upper, middle and lower wall readings or named wall bands. |
| Accent ratio | Highlight area compared with nearby wall background under the same scene. |
| Colour quality | CCT, CRI/Ra, wall finish and comparison condition. |
| Control state | Scene, dimmed level, daylight note and active group. |
| Measured check | Point label, vertical meter orientation, lux value and repeat condition. |
| Boundary | Planning note only; exact targets and formal conclusions stay with project criteria. |