Authors
Jiři Filip, Radomír Vávra
Published in
Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision. Volume 43. Issue 7. Pages 1037-1045. Jul 01, 2026.
Abstract
Black materials play a critical role in applications such as image registration, camera calibration, stray light suppression, and visual design. Although many such materials appear similarly dark under diffuse illumination, their reflectance behavior can differ substantially as a function of viewing and lighting geometry. Ultra-black materials achieve exceptional light attenuation but are often constrained by cost and mechanical fragility, motivating the evaluation of more robust and accessible alternatives. In this study, we employ a gonimetric measurement system to capture the isotropic bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of a range of black materials, including the ultra-black reference Vantablack, commercially available alternatives such as Musou black and black velvet, and standard matte black coatings. We analyze their reflectance characteristics in terms of diffuse and specular scattering, as well as total integrated scatter, to quantify angular-dependent reflection. In addition, we compare their perceptual appearance using physically based rendering driven by the measured BRDFs and a psychophysical evaluation of perceived darkness. Together, these analyses provide a comprehensive assessment of black materials that links reflectance properties to visual appearance and perceptual performance, enabling informed material selection for optical applications.
PMID:
42863025
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Oct 2026.
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