Grazing

Placing a light close to a textured surface to rake across it and exaggerate relief.

Grazing positions a fixture very close to a textured surface and aims the beam nearly parallel to it, so the light rakes across every bump, joint, and groove. The steep angle throws long shadows from each surface detail, dramatically exaggerating relief and revealing texture the eye would otherwise miss. It is the technique of choice for stone walls, brick, stucco, weathered wood, and bark, turning an ordinary surface into a sculptural focal point after dark. Distance matters: the closer the fixture sits to the wall, the more pronounced the shadows. Grazing is closely related to wall washing, but where washing flattens a surface evenly, grazing celebrates its texture.

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