coarseprismatic

Coarseprismatic is a term used in optics and materials science to describe surfaces, textures, or materials that display coarse, prism-like facets. The facets are comparatively large and angular, producing pronounced angular dispersion of light rather than subtle, fine interference effects. The term, formed from "coarse" and "prismatic," distinguishes these textures from micro-prismatic or smooth surfaces and is used in discussions of texture-driven light diffusion.

Structure and appearance: Coarseprismatic textures feature macro-scale facets with irregular or varied orientations. Facet sizes commonly range from tens to hundreds of micrometers, yielding a visibly faceted surface. When illuminated, incident light is refracted by the facets into multiple directions, producing a diffuse, glittering pattern and, in some cases, partial color separation due to dispersion.

Fabrication and materials: Coarseprismatic effects can be produced by mechanical milling, sandblasting with coarse media, laser sculpting, or additive manufacturing followed by facet-forming finishing. They can be implemented as surface textures, embedded prism arrays within coatings, or as patterned glazing to modify light transmission and conceal sharp viewing angles.

Applications and use: The texture is used in decorative glass, architectural lighting, and diffusers to create bold light patterns and to obscure precise viewing angles. In art and design contexts, coarseprismatic surfaces offer a distinct, angular aesthetic and enhanced light diffusion compared with smooth or micro-prismatic finishes.

See also: Prismatic, Facet, Diffuser, Diffraction, Lambertian reflectance.