Lambert's Cosine Law - Uses

Uses

Lambert's cosine law in its reversed form (Lambertian reflection) implies that the apparent brightness of a Lambertian surface is proportional to the cosine of the angle between the surface normal and the direction of the incident light.

This phenomenon is, among others, used when creating moldings, which are a means of applying light- and dark-shaded stripes to a structure or object without having to change the material or apply pigment. The contrast of dark and light areas gives definition to the object. Moldings are strips of material with various cross-sections used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration.