Diffuse reflection

The type of reflection* that occurs on rough surfaces. The roughness of the surface causes light rays to scatter when they bounce off the surface. As a result, any organization present in the incident ray*s is lost. The rougher the surface, the more diffuse (scattered) the reflection.

Diffuse reflection is essential to our ability to perceive the world with our eyes. With the exception of luminous objects such as light bulbs and the sun, everything we see depends on the diffuse reflection of light rays bouncing off of objects and into our eyes.