The 2027 IODC Shafer Cup Competition – FAQ

The Schoenberg Lens Frequently Asked (and Unasked) Questions Q.   What is the chromatic scale that Schoenberg refers to? A.    The chromatic scale comprises twelve notes across a full octave, where an octave is a doubling of the frequency. The frequency ratio between notes is constant. Going from C to the C of the next higher Read More …

The 2027 IODC Shafer Cup Competition

The Schoenberg Lens Background Lens design has much in common with composing music. A successful optical system is more than a collection of individual lens elements – it is a carefully orchestrated arrangement in which each component plays a distinct role while contributing to the performance of the whole. A small change to one element Read More …

2027 Meeting dates and location

The International Optical Design Conference (IODC) is set to return in 2027, bringing together global experts in optical science and engineering for five days of innovation and collaboration. The event will take place June 6-10, 2027, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. This year’s meeting marks an exciting milestone as SPIE assumes Read More …

2023 Illumination Contest – Due April 17

The Unicorn’s Horn By Sir William Castley, Sir Julius Music des Week, Sir Henning the Wren, Sir John of Kosh, and Lady Lien of StarsThe Illumination Guild ABSTRACT The evil sorcerer Étendue has returned. He has teleported the unicorn to the Land of Unity and separated the unicorn’s horn. The Kingdom of Lambert will wither Read More …

The 2023 IODC Shafer Cup Competition

The Yin Yang Lens Background Yin and yang is an ancient Chinese philosophical concept that describes how obviously opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. Yin and yang can be thought of as complementary, Read More …

The 2023 IODC Shafer Cup Competition – FAQ

The Yin Yang Lens Frequently Asked (and Unasked) Questions Q.    Why did you select the name Yin-Yang Lens? A.    The concept of yin and yang as positive and negative aspects of the same object is similar to the goodness and badness of color correction at different wavelengths. Plus, we needed a catchy name, and the Read More …

2021 Illumination Design Problem – FAQ

The Curse of Prince Lambert Frequently Asked Questions and Problem Clarifications Q. What should I do if my software does not support tm25? A. Please contact your vendor and ask them to contact the illumination guild (illuminationguild@iodc.org).  The guild will work with the vendor to provide a file that you can use. Q. Why do Read More …