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DIRECTION • PERSPECTIVE • BALANCE • SYMMETRY • COHESION • DEPTH • FOCAL POINTS • QUALITY |
WALL WASHING |
BACKLIGHTING |
SHADOWING
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| Purpose To provide an even illumination on walls. Fixtures Used MR-16 Directional Lights, Well Lights Considerations Take care that these lights are not glaring for occupants inside the house. Wall washing provides a broad, even illumination across the house. The frontal angle produces a flattening effect (no shadows from the surface texture.) Typically, 60° lamps work best for this application. In some cases, spread lenses are required. |
Purpose To provide illumination around the edges of an object, thereby emphasizing its shape. Fixtures Used MR-16 Directional Lights, Well Lights Considerations This technique is best used on objects with interesting shapes. Be sure that the fixture is hidden from view. The backlit object is not a focal point in the scene - it is a sub-scene, adding visual interest to the overall scene. |
Purpose To create interesting shadows on walls. Fixtures Used MR-16 Directional Lights, Well Lights LightsConsiderations Shadows create visual interest on the structure. For houses with siding, use shadowing to break up the linear patterns. |
PATH/AREA LIGHTING |
GRAZING |
SILHOUETTING |
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| Purpose To light planting beds and paths. And, to provide seamless transition between lighting scenes. Fixtures Used Mushrooms, China Hats, MR-16 Path Lights Considerations Use Mushrooms and China Hats for planting beds and narrow paths. Use MR-16 Path Lights for wider paths and driveways. Stagger the placement for even distribution of light that allows the eye to easily flow through the scene. |
Purpose To provide a steeply angled light to accentuate texture on walls and tree trunks by utilizing the irregular surface to create broken shadows and irregular patterns. Fixtures Used MR-16 Directional Lights, Well Lights Considerations Position light within 1 foot of walls or tree trunks. When lighting walls, space lights at even intervals and use consistent beam spread so illuminated areas blend into one other. |
Purpose To provide a lit surface that acts as a backdrop for unlit plant material or other features. Fixtures Used MR-16 Directional Lights, Well Lights Considerations This technique produces dramatic effects and is best used for features that have distinctive and interesting shapes. |
UP LIGHTING |
MOON LIGHTING |
CROSS LIGHTING |
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| Purpose To highlight a tree or other feature, to provide a dramatic effect, especially with flowering or specimen plant material Fixtures Used MR-16 Directional Lights, Well Lights Considerations For Pine trees and other dense foliage plant material, place fixtures outside the drip line of the plant and limit spacing to 5 foot on center. Less dense trees usually require far fewer fixtures with 8 to 10 foot spacing. For tree trunks, use low intensity grazing technique to accentuate textures. |
Purpose To provide soft natural lighting over large areas, serves as an idel transition connecting different lighting scenes together and eliminating black holes from the project. Fixtures Used MR-16 Tree lights, 20W 60° amps (suggested) Considerations Fixtures must be at least 25 ft. high (aimed no greater than 35% from vertical). At least two lights per tree is recommended. Fasten fixtures to tree with mounting canopy. Do not screw canopy directly to tree surface, allow space behind canopy to prevent tree rot. |
Purpose Defines surface texture instead of flattening effect when using a single front light. Fixtures Used MR-16 Directional Lights, Well Lights Considerations Often used to define focal points. Lamp selection and fixture placement is critical. An angle of 45° between fixtures is often used. Honeycomb louvers can be used in MR-16 directional lights to minimize light spill. |
MIRROR LIGHTING |
NICHE LIGHTING |
STEP LIGHTING |
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| Purpose To take advantage of the reflective surface of water features and create dramatic scenes. Fixtures Used MR-16 Directional Lights, Well Lights Considerations The scene behind the water feature needs to be well designed and adjusted with consideration of the viewing areas. |
Purpose To illuminate areas such as decks, entranceways, and gazebos where the fixture must be attached to a structure. Fixtures Used Niche Lights Considerations Placement is key. Before mounting fixture, view the effect at night to ensure best placement. Installation can be time consuming. Consider drilling diagonal, intersecting holes in rail post(see pic) to hide lead wires (Carey Technique.) Exsposed holes are then plugged with wood putty. |
Purpose To illuminate steps. Fixtures Used Deck Lights, Niche Lights Considerations Placement is key. Before mounting fixture, view the effect at night to ensure best placement. Installation can be time consuming. Use “wire threading” to hide wires (see Niche Lighting Illustration.) |
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