1. Diffuse reflection:

- small grained, rough surface
- the incoming light is reflected in all directions

2. Mirror (specular) reflection:

- glossy, refined surface
- the incoming light is reflected at the same angle (angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection)

3. Retroreflection:

- there are two kinds of retroreflection: spherical and cube corner
- the incoming light is reflected back in the direction that it came from (to return light back to its source)

To return light back to its source:

- to allow of better visibility at night
- retroreflectives can return light over a greater distance than regular reflectives

1. spherical (tiny glass beads)
2. cube corner

Testing at night, to hold the source of light by near eyes:

In the day:

1. The light of day (diffuse reflection) - it's the dominant in the day
2. The reflective light of headlights (retroreflection)

At night:

1. The reflective light of headlights (retroreflection) - it's the dominant at night
2. The diffuse light of headlights (diffuse reflection)