A method for determining a radiation characteristic for a vehicle illumination device to be produced from possible radiation characteristics based on a parameter is provided. The parameter is selected from an illumination geometry that can be generated by the device in a surroundings of the device, a device position, and a person-related type of perception. The method includes determining a first value of a light intensity that can be generated for a first point located within an illuminatable area based on the parameter. A second value of the light intensity that can be generated by the illumination device is determined for second points based on the first value. The second points are arranged in the surroundings of the illumination device. A light distribution that can be generated by the illumination device is determined based on the first and second values and the light distribution is outputted to an interface.