Near-light illumination

A near-light apparatus, comprising:

• a housing defining an inner volume;
• a target area disposed within the inner volume, the target area to receive a sample;
• and
• a first lamp positioned within the inner volume, the first lamp to emit an approximately uniform light towards a sample, the first lamp comprising:
• a plurality of light sources;
• an edge-blending film to condition light emitted at an outer perimeter of the first lamp to soften a light edge;
• and
• a first light-shaping diffuser comprising a first diffusing angle to diffuse light emitted from an interior region of the first lamp.

A photometric imaging system comprising:

• a first lamp comprising:
• a plurality of light sources comprising a color temperature having an approximately constant value as a brightness of the plurality of light sources is changed;
• an edge-blending film to condition light emitted at an outer perimeter of the first lamp to soften a light edge;
• and
• a first light-shaping diffuser comprising a first diffusing angle to diffuse light emitted from an interior region of the first lamp to illuminate a sample approximately uniformly;
• an imaging device to capture images of the sample illuminated by the first lamp;
• and
• a target area to receive the sample.