Abstract Fundamental effects such as the participation of crystal lattice vibrations should be taken into account while considering photo-ionisation in solids at measurement temperatures characteristic for dosimetric applications. The impact of these effects on the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) can be recognised for example by changes in the optical cross-section of the trap with the stimulation energy and the temperature. The OSL signal observed during the stimulation with variable energy, during the linear heating of a sample or during the stimulation with modulation of the shape of a spectral band can provide important information about the properties of the trap. Moreover, such methods when applied with carefully selected experimental parameters enable the effective separation of the OSL signal originating from different traps. The consequences of such an approach to optical stimulation will be presented using the modelling of the OSL process and compared with experimental results.