Luminance vs. Brightness — What's the Difference?

Luminance is a photometric measure of the luminous intensity per unit area of light travelling in a given direction. It describes the amount of light that passes through, is emitted from, or is reflected from a particular area, and falls within a given solid angle.

Brightness is an attribute of visual perception in which a source appears to be radiating or reflecting light. In other words, brightness is the perception elicited by the luminance of a visual target.

The condition or quality of being luminous.

The state or quality of being bright.

(Physics) The intensity of light per unit area of its source. Also called photometric brightness.

The effect or sensation by means of which an observer is able to distinguish differences in luminance.

The quality of being luminous.

The dimension of a color that represents its similarity to one of a series of achromatic colors ranging from very dim (dark) to very bright (dazzling).

The amount of light that passes through, is emitted, or is reflected from a particular area, and falls within a given solid angle.

The quality of being bright.

The luminous flux emitted in a given direction divided by the product of the projected area of the source element perpendicular to the direction and the solid angle containing that direction (i.e. luminous intensity divided by unit area), measured in stilbs or apostilbs.

The perceived luminance of an object.

The quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light;

Intelligence, cleverness.

The quality or state of being bright; splendor; luster; brilliancy; clearness.

Acuteness (of the faculties); sharpness 9wit.

The location of a visual perception along the black-to-white continuum

Intelligence as manifested in being quick and witty

The quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light;