When upgrading to modern projector headlights, you might notice a little extra lighting outside the core high beam pattern when the brights are activated. It's a completely normal characteristic for many projector-based designs—and it’s something you might hear enthusiasts refer to as "squirrel lighting." This nickname comes from the idea that a small amount of light can reach higher areas like treetops or signs, rather than being focused entirely on the road ahead. It’s a normal part of how some projector systems behave, especially those that prioritize maximum high beam output.
Why It Happens
Projector headlights use internal shields and lenses to carefully control the beam of light. When you activate the high beams, a mechanism inside the projector adjusts or removes part of that shield to allow more light through. This dramatically increases forward visibility, but it can also allow a small amount of additional light to escape around the very top or sides of the beam pattern. Because projector systems are designed to deliver as much usable light as possible in high beam mode, a little bit of extra scatter is a completely normal tradeoff.
How It Affects Performance
The most important thing to know is that the primary focus of the high beam remains exactly where it should be—straight ahead, maximizing visibility down the road. The additional light outside of the main beam is minor and does not negatively impact performance or safety. In fact, in some cases, a small amount of additional lighting toward the sides or above the road can help improve peripheral awareness, making it easier to spot signs, branches, or even wildlife in rural areas. Rather than taking away from your high beam performance, this minor scatter can sometimes add a bit of helpful coverage outside of your direct line of sight.
FORM Lighting's Approach
At FORM Lighting, we design our headlights to deliver powerful, focused performance while maintaining beam patterns that meet automotive lighting standards. Our headlights are engineered with precision optics that provide excellent forward visibility with controlled levels of additional light. The small amount of extra light seen when the high beams are activated is part of the natural operation of projector-based headlights, and remains well within the norms seen across many OEM and aftermarket designs. Our goal is always to balance strong output, reliable performance, and great real-world usability for every driver.
Closing
Noticing details like these shows you care about getting the most out of your lighting—and we do too. If you have any questions about the performance of your FORM Lighting headlights, or if you want help making sure your lights are performing their best, our team is always ready to assist.