to the United States 
Architectural and display lighting uses focused or shaped beams to highlight surfaces, objects, or spaces. The key requirements are beam control (optics), color consistency (ANSI-binned LEDs), and form factors that fit into custom fixtures. Our modules, optics, and pre-assembled light engines (Star/O, 25mm Square, Side Emitter) cover the most common architectural lighting scenarios.
Common Applications and Recommended Modules
| Application | Module | Optic | CCT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display case accent | Star or Star/O | 8°–12° spot | 2700–3000K warm white |
| Museum / gallery spot | Star + Carclo 20mm optic | 12°–20° | 3000–3500K (warm, high CRI with Rebel PLUS) |
| Retail shelf lighting | 10mm Square or Rectangular | None (wide wash) or 18° | 3500–4000K neutral |
| Cove / indirect lighting | Side Emitter (180°) | Pre-installed | 2700–3000K warm |
| Wall washing | Star + elliptical optic | 9.5° × 40° or 41° × 19° | 3000–4000K |
| Signage backlighting | 10mm Square or Rectangular | None | 5000–6500K cool white for contrast |
| Under-cabinet | Side Emitter or 10mm Square | Pre-installed (Side Emitter) or none | 2700–3500K |
| Outdoor facade | Tri-Star or Quad + sealed housing | 20°–30° | 3000–4000K |
Pre-Assembled Light Engines
Three form factors include a factory-installed optic — no separate optic purchase or assembly needed:
- Star/O (60 modules) — Round, 25mm, various beam angles. Drop into a fixture and wire.
- 25mm Square (33 modules) — 9° narrow spot pre-installed. For accent and display highlighting.
- Side Emitter (94 modules) — 180° side-emitting. For cove lighting, edge lighting, and wall grazing where light must exit parallel to the mounting surface.
These are the fastest path to a working architectural fixture — fewer components to specify and assemble.
Color Consistency
Architectural lighting often places multiple modules in the same line of sight (a row of downlights, a cove with multiple modules, a display case with several accent spots). Color variation between modules is highly visible in these settings.
Use LUXEON Rebel PLUS for any multi-module architectural installation. ANSI binning ensures modules at the same CCT look identical. Available in 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K, and 5000K.
Beam Shaping for Architecture
| Beam Type | Optic | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Narrow spot | 8°–12° clear | Dramatic accent, sharp pool of light |
| Medium spot | 18°–27° clear or frosted | Softer accent, covers a larger area |
| Wall wash | Elliptical (9.5° × 40°) | Even spread across a vertical surface |
| Wide flood | 44°–50° frosted | Ambient fill, soft and diffuse |
| Cove / indirect | Side Emitter (180°) | Light washes along ceiling or wall from a hidden source |
Frosted optics are preferred in most architectural applications because they produce smoother, more even beams without visible hotspots.
