Visual Haze

Visual Haze Indoors and Outdoors are perception-based haze values that describe how hazy a high‑gloss surface appears under typical indoor or outdoor lighting conditions.

Parameter description

Visual Haze values indicate the loss of contrast and clarity around the specular highlight, expressed on a dedicated VHU scale. Visual Haze Indoors is tuned for viewing under common interior lighting (artificial light, lower illuminance), while Visual Haze Outdoors is tuned for brighter, directional daylight where halos and cloudiness are more noticeable.

How are they measured?

The instrument captures a high‑dynamic‑range image of the specular reflection and adjacent regions at the 60° geometry.

Software processes the image using different luminance and contrast weightings that represent indoor or outdoor viewing conditions, converting the result into Visual Haze Indoors (VHU) and Visual Haze Outdoors (VHU) values.

Applications

Visual Haze Indoors: specification and quality control of products primarily viewed under indoor lighting, such as interior automotive trim, furniture, domestic appliances and electronic devices.

Visual Haze Outdoors: evaluation of exterior body panels, coated metalwork, signage and other surfaces exposed to daylight, ensuring that haze remains within acceptable limits in bright outdoor conditions.