A boundary serves to indicate a limit. When working with light the limit of our vision may be referred to as a 'visual boundary'. In the natural world this is often the horizon where the sky meets the sea, the earth or topographical forms. In the built environment the visual boundary of our space is often a vertical form, or series of forms. A lit boundary may be created by contrast or continuity. It may be passive through the use of static light or made dynamic through the use of moving light.

A boundary in light may serve to either unify or separate space. Boundaries may be formed by light itself as the threshold between a dark space and a light space. The 'permeability' of any boundary to light dictates the degree of transparency or solidity and dictates the limit of the visual field. Light helps to define our understanding of the limits of space and form through the lighting of boundaries.

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