Leuchtrahmen mit Kanteneinstrahlung in einer Spielothek

What the Color Rendering Index (CRI) reveals about light quality

Importance of light quality

When it comes to lighting, it's not just the brightness that matters, but also the quality of the light. A crucial factor here is the color rendering index, or CRI (Color Rendering Index). It describes how natural colors appear under an artificial light source – in other words, how realistically we perceive colors.

What does the color rendering index (Ra/CRI) mean?

The CRI value measures how close the color rendering of a light source is to natural daylight.

  • CRI 100 stands for perfect color reproduction – comparable to sunlight.
  • CRI 90–99 means near-perfect color reproduction, ideal for demanding environments.
  • A CRI of 80–90 is considered standard for indoor spaces and provides pleasant, balanced light.

In the European Union, Regulation (EU) No 1194/2012 prescribes a CRI above 80 for indoor lighting – a quality standard for any modern lighting solution.

Where is high color reproduction important?

A high CRI is crucial wherever color fidelity and detail are important:

  • in retail, to make products appear more alive
  • in exhibition spaces and galleries for natural color perception
  • in fashion houses where materials are meant to appear authentic
  • in presentation areas where design and quality are intended to impress

Why the CRI is evaluated differently for LED light frames

With LED light frames, the focus is not on room lighting, but on the even backlighting of textiles or graphics.

  • The light should make the subject appear brilliant, homogeneous and high-contrast.
  • A CRI above 70 is usually perfectly sufficient for this.
  • The color effect here depends mainly on the printed image on the textile – not on the light itself.

Custom solutions for special requirements

For individual projects, LED modules with a higher CRI above 85 can be integrated. Values ​​above 90 are technically possible, but offer no visible benefit for surface and backlighting. The intended use is always the deciding factor: While ambient lighting requires maximum color fidelity, a harmonious and uniform surface effect is crucial for backlit displays.

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