The color rendering index, or CRI, is something that must be considered before buying a lighting product. In contrast to natural light, it measures how you perceive objects under artificial light sources such as LED lights.
In this guide, we discuss what Color Rendering Index – CRI is, how it works, and most importantly, how you can use it to get the best product for your location.
How Does CRI Work?
The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is calculated by comparing the appearance of eight standard color samples under the light of a given lamp and a reference light source with the same correlated color temperature. The difference in appearance between the two sets of samples forms the basis for calculating the CRI as a value between 0 and 100.
A CRI score of 100 means that the artificial light source perfectly matches the quality of natural daylight, making colors appear just as they would under sunlight. Conversely, a low CRI score indicates that colors may appear washed out or unnatural under that light source.
The following diagram will help you understand how the color rendering ability of an artificial light source affects the results we see. At low CRI LED bulbs, the color appearance of the object under consideration deteriorates significantly.
Why is CRI Important?
CRI plays an important role in various settings where color accuracy is critical. Let’s take an example of an art gallery; here, accurate color rendering can make a significant difference in how viewers perceive artwork. Paintings or sculptures displayed under high-CRI lighting will show off their true colors, while those under low-CRI lights may appear dull or different from the artist’s original intention.
In retail spaces too, high-CRI lighting can dramatically enhance product displays, making merchandise more appealing to shoppers and potentially boosting sales.
Even at home, choosing high-CRI LED lights can improve your living spaces by allowing you to see everything – from your food to your décor – in its best light.
Choosing Your LED Lights
When selecting LED lights for your home or commercial space, it’s essential to consider not just brightness and energy efficiency but also their Color Rendering Index (CRI). Look for LEDs with a CRI value close to 100 for superior color accuracy.
Remember, although higher CRIs usually mean better color accuracy, it doesn’t always mean ‘better’ lighting—it depends on what you want from your lighting environment. A mid-range CRI may be suitable for general living areas while higher CRIs are often preferred in places like art galleries or retail stores.
In conclusion, understanding the concept of CRI can help you make more informed decisions when purchasing lighting products. So next time you shop for lights, don’t forget to check the CRI!
Where Can You Spot It?
The Color Rendering Index (CRI) value found on the packaging of your LED lamp typically falls between 0 and 100. Generally, a higher score is more desirable, but this can vary based on its intended application. For example, a mid-range CRI value might be suitable for general living spaces, but may not be sufficient for more specific settings like an art gallery.
This CRI value is derived from a color rendering index chart which is quite intuitive and self-explanatory.
What’s the Measurement Process?
To measure the CRI of lighting, the color quality scale (or color rendering score) of a light source is compared to that of an ideal source, known as a perfect black body radiator, while maintaining a steady color temperature fixed at 5000k. This measurement process incorporates various methodologies including testing methods, chromatic adaptation strategies, and the R96a method.
The Significance of Color Rendering Index in LED Lighting
The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a crucial factor to consider when installing your LED light bulbs, given its substantial influence on the aesthetics of your furniture, wall color, décor, and overall ambiance.
It’s essential to understand that not all light sources are created equal. In fact, lamps boasting higher CRI ratings can make a world of difference.
Household lighting with subpar CRI ratings can adversely affect your visibility, reading capability, and the overall mood and tone of your surroundings. This is particularly relevant for color-sensitive areas like living rooms, home offices, art exhibitions, and research institutes. Therefore, it’s always advisable to check the luminaire package thoroughly before making a purchase.
In commercial settings such as the textile and décor industries where product consistency is key, the importance of CRI cannot be overstated. It’s vital that products maintain the same color appearance from production through to market display.
LED technology continues to advance daily and now offers improved CRI ratings more than ever before. LEDs with a rating ranging from around 80 to 90 on color rendering scale are ideally suited for facade and landscape lighting applications.
Selecting the Right Color Rendering Index for Your LED Lighting Solutions
Choosing the right color rendering index (CRI) can drastically impact your lighting project. High-quality lighting can enhance the vibrancy of your interior design and ensure color accuracy, while also staying within your budget. But what if your project doesn’t require a high CRI? You could end up wasting resources on unnecessary lighting solutions.
To help you make an informed decision, this guide will walk you through essential steps to choose the most suitable CRI range:
Step 1: Determine Your Requirements
Your application requirements will determine the CRI. To assist you in defining these, consider the following questions:
Does color play a significant role in branding?
For businesses that rely heavily on specific colors for branding and marketing, maintaining color consistency across all channels is critical. This includes not only advertisements but also physical spaces like offices or stores. For such applications, high fidelity lighting solutions that accurately reproduce brand colors are essential.
Restaurants, corporations, and agencies with distinct color schemes should opt for a CRI that faithfully represents these hues.
Will colors influence customer or visitor behavior?
In retail and merchandising, creating an appealing environment is key to driving sales. High CRI lighting enables customers to perceive product colors accurately, influencing their shopping decisions for items ranging from clothing and cosmetics to home decor.
Furthermore, high-quality lighting and strategic displays can enhance customer dwell time in-store, increasing the likelihood of purchases.
Whether it’s a supermarket or a jewelry store display window, opt for a higher CRI of around 90 where color rendition is crucial to aesthetics.
Shopping malls must ensure top-notch lighting quality to attract potential customers.
Apart from retail outlets, other venues involving product displays like art galleries or automobile showrooms require superior color quality.
Is safety a priority in your project?
In facilities where employee safety is paramount, high-quality lighting plays a critical role. Industrial workers often handle hazardous machinery and require well-lit workspaces to avoid accidents.
While high wattage bulbs can provide adequate illumination, a higher CRI contributes significantly to improved visibility. For projects prioritizing safety, opt for lighting solutions with CRIs greater than 90.
Do employees require optimal visibility?
Workplaces such as offices, schools, and universities require lighting that promotes easy viewing and productivity while minimizing eye strain. Similarly, warehouses need good lighting for efficient inventory management and product identification.
For applications requiring precision and prolonged exposure to light, consider investing in LED lights with a CRI range of 80-90.
Meanwhile, activities like painting or printing necessitate clear and accurate colors – another scenario where high CRI lighting proves beneficial.
Indoor tasks like studying or cooking also require top-quality lighting with high CRIs. Compared to outdoor areas like parking lots or streets where a CRI of 70-80 suffices for security and navigation purposes, indoor applications generally demand higher CRIs. This is because factors like light output and wattage take precedence over color fidelity in outdoor settings.
Step 2: Determining Your Budget
LED lamps with a high Color Rendering Index (CRI) typically come with a higher price tag due to their elevated phosphor levels, which can impact the overall efficiency of the bulb. Unnecessarily opting for high CRI lamps could result in unnecessary expenditure.
A smart approach would be to select LED lamps with a middle-range CRI (80-90) if you’re working within a limited budget but still require decent color accuracy.
Should you have a larger budget and view your lighting investment as something that will benefit you in the long-run, then selecting LED lamps with a CRI greater than 90 might be an ideal choice. However, always consider your project’s specific requirements before making any decisions.
Step 3: Experiment and Test
Trialing different bulbs with varying CRIs within your project can be an effective method for determining which LED lamp will present your colors most accurately. Interestingly, there are instances where an LED lamp with a mid-range CRI outperforms one with a higher CRI.
It’s essential to consider factors such as the size of your project area, the number of lights required, and the nature of their application when deciding on the most suitable bulb. It’s important to remember that theories don’t always translate perfectly into practice – so testing out different options before committing to a large purchase is highly recommended.
Recommended CRIs for Different Applications:
| Project Type | Examples | Recommended CRI Range |
| Indoor/Residential | Kitchens, study rooms, bedrooms, lounges | 80-90 |
| Hospitality Sector | Restaurants, cafes, motels, hotels | 80-95 |
| Retail/Merchandising | Malls, fashion shops, car showrooms, art exhibitions | 90+ |
| Business Environments | Offices, schools, studios, hospitals, photography studios | 90-97 |
| Industrial Settings | Chemical/metal industries, production plants | 90+ |
| Other | Parking lots, garages, warehouses, backyards | 70-80 |
CRI Suggestions
Acquire Superior CRI LED Lights from Recolux Lighting
As one of the foremost LED lighting manufacturers, Recolux Lighting has been instrumental in assisting numerous designers, artists, and contractors in creating their illumination projects from the ground up. Our expertise extends to an in-depth understanding of the color rendering index (CRI), and how to best harmonize it with wattage, lumens, and brightness for optimal illumination outcomes.
Opt for the market’s top-rated CRI (95+), and allow us to guide you in determining the ideal wattage and CRI pairing for your project needs.
