When lighting any object or any space, its mostly about the light effect that lighting Fixtures create in that space, lighting effect depends on many factors, light intensity, color, direction, Angle and diffusion. To form a certain light diffusion lighting fixtures designers have worked for many years on the light design itself, looking and inspecting almost any lighting fixture you notice that lighting Optics vary from three main types, each type has its own specs, shape, materials, and most importantly (lighting effect), Diffusers, reflectors, and lenses, each type is used for certain lighting and it’s applied for certain desired atmosphere among the lightened space
Diffusers are mainly used to create a soft homogenous light and to be able to control light aiming for a softer light and controlling its brightness and color, eliminating hotspots created by the light diode itself, diffusers are the most common way to achieve a general lighting effect without spotting and for directing light producing aglow rather than a sharp beam
Usually, reflectors are used in lighting fixtures to reflect light emitted from the lighting source and Fix shadows that might be created alongside the light, reflectors are designed to follow the light sources opening shape, since they are installed directly close to the lighting source in order to eliminate maximum light waste, they can be round, rectangular, etc., reflectors are used primarily to guide the light so it never enters the bulk material and only interacts with its surface and to send light from the light source itself in a collimated and controlled beam, whether narrow or wide. And usually are used for traditional low contrast lighting environments
Lenses on the other hand are the most advanced optic invented to control the rays of light coming out from the lighting diode and it allows complete control over the lighting direction, shape, effect and even the type of shadows light cast over surfaces according to the design of the lens ,since the invention of those lenses ,optical engineers have been working for years to create more shapes and types of lenses hovering over lenses manufacturers you notice that there is an uncountable designs of lenses which provides hundreds of lighting effects and can satisfy any lighting designers need
In order to summarize the previous information to have a better view on the differences between the three main diffusion types, below is this comparison between them regarding few main differences points, age (when it was invented), lighting effect in general, ability to control the light coming out of the lighting source, and usual place and applications often used for.
| diffuser | reflector | lenses | |
| age | old invention | right after the inventions of diffusers | latest trend in optics |
| effect | general | directed wide or narrow | directed to certain angle and shape |
| light control | least control | good control | total control |
| usual usage | wide areas ,facade general, lighting | aimed lighting ,spotlighting | high end ,fasion ,retail |
| design | simple ,depends on shading | many designs according to reflective surface | complex design to generate certain angle or effect |
