Overlighting

Overlighting is the condition in which illumination exceeds the amount needed for a given task or scene, producing glare, hotspots, washed-out highlights, and reduced tonal separation. It can occur in photography, film, stage lighting, architecture, and interior design.

Causes include excessive luminance from fixtures, poor exposure control, high dynamic range requirements beyond the sensor or eye, inadequate diffusion, and the accumulation of light from multiple sources. Automatic exposure, metering errors, and aggressive lighting design can contribute.

Effects include loss of detail in bright areas (highlight clipping), flattened contrast and depth, color shifts or desaturation, temporary eye strain, and in built environments, visual discomfort and energy waste. In photography and cinema, overlighting can reduce texture and three-dimensionality.

Mitigation involves tailoring luminance to the task, using dimmers or lighting controls, diffusing light or bouncing it, selecting fixtures with appropriate output and glare control, balancing key and fill lights, and adjusting exposure settings. In post-processing, highlight recovery is limited; preserving the capture range is preferred.

Related concepts include overexposure, glare, and lumen management. Proper lighting aims for sufficient brightness with good contrast, color fidelity, and comfort while avoiding wasted energy.