Skip to content
Shading TexasShading Texas
Shading Texas

Sun Out, Life In

Call Today: 512-264-1500

Serving Austin, San Antonio and Houston

  • About Us
    • Testimonials
    • Locations
      • Austin
        • Georgetown
        • Lakeway
        • Marble Falls
        • Westlake
      • San Antonio
  • Products
    • All Products
      • Sun Shades
      • Insect Screens
      • Patio Enclosures
      • Retractable Awnings
      • Security Shutters
      • Motorization & Automation
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • Testimonials
    • Locations
      • Austin
        • Georgetown
        • Lakeway
        • Marble Falls
        • Westlake
      • San Antonio
  • Products
    • All Products
      • Sun Shades
      • Insect Screens
      • Patio Enclosures
      • Retractable Awnings
      • Security Shutters
      • Motorization & Automation
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Jan272016
tree casting sharp shadows

The Science of Shade

The shade that your patio screens and awnings creates does a lot to battle the sun. These are the areas where sunlight and UV rays have trouble penetrating the surfaces that the come in contact with.

Request A Quote
Call Us At 512-264-1500

What is shade?

Shade or a shadow is the absence of light in a space in which light is obstructed by an object. Few objects are solid enough to block out the light required for blackout conditions. Most shade is not a complete absence of light but a severe reduction in the amount of light able to reach the area.

A small point of light creates a simple shadow called an umbra. You can see an umbra when you shine a flashlight on an opaque object and it casts a shadow. The shadow begins and ends and, depending on the distance from the object, creates a sharp silhouette that closely resembles the form of the original object.

Larger light sources like the sun provide light from afar that is diffuse. Diffuse light is light that is not centralized into a single beam. Its energy is spread throughout a large area.

Light from large light sources creates several types of shadows:

  • Umbra
  • Penumbra
  • Anumbra

The penumbra is the area around the darkest part of the shadow where diffuse light begins to penetrate the shadowed area. It has a medium level of light intensity and provides noticeable temperature changes.

The anumbra is the area where the length of the ends and begins to fade into the light area. It corresponds with the top of the opaque object. The anumbra extends past the top of the shadow and gradually lets in more light.

How does shade change throughout the day?

The angle of the sun affects the length and sharpness of shade. When the day begins, the sunlight is extremely diffuse. As it passes the horizon and moves toward the top of the sky, shadows become shorter and sharper.

At midday, shadows are cast directly downward. At this time, only suspended objects such as awnings will create shade.

How does shade affect temperature?

Standing in direct sunlight exposes you to solar radiation, which makes the air feel 10-15 degrees warmer than the actual temperature.

Temperatures are closer to actual air temperatures when you’re in the shade. Staying out of the solar radiation also prevents your skin from being damaged by too much sunlight, which can intensify the feeling of heat on the skin.

Request A Quote
Call Us At 512-264-1500
Category: Outdoor awningsBy Shading TexasJanuary 27, 2016

Post navigation

PreviousPrevious post:How to Fix an Insect ScreenNextNext post:What is an Awning?

Related posts

How to Clean Awnings: The Ultimate Guide
December 7, 2020
red stripe motorized awning
The Best Kinds of Awning Brackets for Your Home
July 17, 2019
A Comprehensive Guide to Awnings
June 5, 2019
outdoor-furniture-protection
How to Protect Your Outdoor Furniture
May 10, 2019
Retractable awnings and wind
Retractable Awnings and Wind
August 20, 2018
awning summer shade
Beating the Summer Heat with Awnings
May 29, 2018

Contact Us Today

Free On-Site Estimates
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Navigation:
  • About Us
  • Products
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Contact Us:
Shading Texas
6406 Old Burleson Rd #110
Austin, TX 78744

Phone: 512-264-1500
Service Area:

We proudly serve the following areas: Bastrop, Bee Caves, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Houston, Katy, Kyle, Lakeway, Leander, Manchaca, Marble Falls, Pflugerville, Round Rock, San Antonio, and Westlake!

Connect With Us:
© Shading Texas Copyright 2020 | Privacy Policy | Sitemap