Convert meter-candle [m*c] to centimeter-candle [cm*c] Online | Free lllumination Converter

A Traditional Unit of Illuminance

The meter-candle (m·c) is a historical unit of illuminance that measures the luminous flux falling on a surface area of one square meter from a uniform point source with an intensity of one candlepower (now replaced by the candela) placed one meter away. It was used primarily before the international adoption of the lux as the standard unit for illuminance.

One meter-candle is roughly equivalent to one lux, since lux is defined as lumens per square meter. However, the meter-candle historically provided a more intuitive measure of illuminance based on the distance from a known light source, which was practical for early lighting calculations and designs.

While the meter-candle is largely obsolete today, replaced by the lux in most scientific and engineering applications, it remains a useful reference when interpreting older lighting standards, manuals, and specifications.

Understanding the meter-candle helps in grasping the evolution of lighting measurement units and appreciating the advances in photometric science that have led to more precise and standardized units.

A Historical Unit of Illuminance

The centimeter-candle (cm·c) is an older, non-SI unit of illuminance that measures the luminous flux falling on a surface area of one square centimeter. It is defined as the illuminance produced at a distance of one centimeter from a uniform point source of one candlepower (now replaced by the candela).

Since the centimeter-candle measures light intensity over a very small area, it represents a much finer scale compared to more common units like the foot-candle or lux. One centimeter-candle is equivalent to 10,000 lux because one square meter contains 10,000 square centimeters.

Historically, the centimeter-candle was used in photometry and lighting sciences before international standardization led to the widespread adoption of the lux as the preferred illuminance unit. Its usage today is rare and mostly of historical interest, but it remains useful for understanding older lighting data and certain precise scientific contexts where small-area measurements matter.

Understanding centimeter-candle helps bridge the gap between historical and modern units of light measurement and offers insight into the evolution of photometric standards.