What is graze angle?

Graze angle is the angle at which a light source illuminates a surface. It is the angle at which the light rays strike the surface, and is measured in degrees from the surface normal.

When a light source is at a high graze angle, the light rays are almost parallel to the surface. This creates a low angle of incidence and a high angle of reflection, causing the surface to appear bright and shiny.

On the other hand, when a light source is at a low graze angle, the light rays are more perpendicular to the surface. This creates a high angle of incidence and a low angle of reflection, causing the surface to appear darker and less shiny.

The graze angle can affect the appearance and perception of surfaces, especially in architectural design or product design. It is often taken into consideration in the selection and placement of lighting fixtures in these fields.