Machine vision dome lights provide diffuse lighting, also known as “cloudy-day illumination”. Reflected light provides non-directional, soft illumination that is free of shadowing. This effect is well suited for inspecting highly specular, and curved objects, but at close working distances. The light I.D. needs to be approximately 50% oversized compared with the object size to be illuminated.
Flat Diffuse Lights are often referred to as “Flat Domes” because of the similar performance characteristics they share with classic domed illuminators. If sufficiently oversized compared with the object of interest, flat diffuse lights can provide an adequate “Cloudy Day” lighting effect at a larger range of working distances than domes.