Ukukhanya okubomvu nokukhanya kwe-infrared kuyizinhlobo ezimbili zemisebe kagesi eyingxenye yokukhanya okubonakalayo nokungabonakali, ngokulandelana.
Ukukhanya okubomvu kuwuhlobo lokukhanya okubonakalayo okunobude begagasi ende kanye nefrikhwensi ephansi uma kuqhathaniswa neminye imibala ku-spectrum yokukhanya ebonakalayo. Ivamise ukusetshenziswa ekukhanyiseni nanjengedivaysi yokubonisa izimpawu, njengakumalambu amile. Kwezokwelapha, ukwelapha ukukhanya okubomvu kusetshenziselwa ukwelapha izimo ezihlukahlukene ezifana nezinkinga zesikhumba, ubuhlungu bamalunga, nobuhlungu bemisipha.
Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ukukhanya kwe-infrared, kunobude begagasi ende kanye nemvamisa ephezulu kunokukhanya okubomvu futhi akubonakali ngeso lomuntu. Isetshenziswa kuzinhlelo zokusebenza ezahlukahlukene, njengezilawuli kude, amakhamera wokuthwebula ashisayo, nanjengomthombo wokushisa ezinqubweni ze-inductrial. Kwezokwelapha, ukwelashwa kokukhanya kwe-infrared kusetshenziselwa ukukhulula ubuhlungu nokuthuthukisa ukujikeleza kwegazi.
Kokubili ukukhanya okubomvu nokukhanya kwe-infrared kunezici ezihlukile ezizenza zibe usizo emikhakheni eyahlukene, kusukela ekukhanyeni nasekuboniseni izimpawu kuye kwezokwelapha nobuchwepheshe.