Here's an answer to a commonly asked question about LED lighting technology.
Lighting Color Rendering Index is 'Color Accuracy'
Posted in General by Net Zero USA
Developed in the 1960s, Color Rendering Index or CRI is a common metric for characterizing the color quality of lighting (not to be confused with color temperature or Kelvin).
For simplicity you can think of CRI as a measurement of ‘Color Accuracy’
This image above is a good depiction of differing CRIs, with each image having the same warm color temperature (2700K).
Determining a light’s Color Rendering Index is a calculation procedure comparing the chromaticities of eight standard color chips illuminated by a reference source with their chromaticities when illuminated by a practical light source.
In other words, CRI is a quantitative measure of the ability of a light source to reveal the color spectrum of a given object in comparison with an ideal or natural light source.
The greater the chromaticity shift, the lower the CRI, which is to say that more shift in color means the light is of lower quality.
Table: Color Rendering Index Of Common Lighting Technologies
Takeaway: Light sources with a high CRI are of higher color quality. This is more important in color-critical applications such as an art gallery or a furniture showroom when an exact color match is needed.
Looking For An LED Lighting Solution?
Installing energy efficient LED lighting projects with Net Zero USA offers a lifetime of benefits including lower energy costs, maintenance savings, higher quality lighting levels, and more productive workers.
Request a consultation or contact your local LED lighting installer to learn about improving lighting and your bottom line TODAY!