Light emission from a light package, such as from an LED light package, is enhanced by a system and method for adjusting the refractive index at the surface of the encapsulating material surrounding the light source. The surface refractive index is changed to better match the index within the encapsulating material with the index of the media surrounding the encapsulating material. In one embodiment, the index is adjusted by roughing the surface of the encapsulating material. In another embodiment, a separate layer is created having a corrective index of refraction. The separate layer can comprise photonic crystals, if desired. In some embodiments the adjusting will achieve a graded index of refraction.