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Recommended CRI index levels for various lighting projects

29 Apr.,2024

Recommended CRI index levels for various lighting projects

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a valuable tool for evaluating the quality of artificial lighting sources. It measures how accurately a light source renders colors compared to a reference source, which is typically natural sunlight or a standardized artificial light source. CRI is expressed as a numerical value between 0 and 100, with a higher number indicating better color rendering ability.

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High CRI lighting is especially important in spaces where color accuracy is crucial, such as art galleries, clothing stores, and photography studios. In these environments, a low CRI can distort colors and negatively impact the appearance of the objects being viewed or photographed.

However, even in spaces where color accuracy is less critical, such as office spaces or homes, high CRI lighting can improve the overall appearance and comfort of the space. High CRI lighting can make colors appear more vibrant and natural, which can positively impact mood and productivity.

Different lamps, such as fluorescent or gas discharge lamps, can have CRIs ranging from 17 to 96, and even negative values for sodium low-pressure lamps, which are commonly used for street lighting. The CRI was introduced by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) in 1974 to address the wide variation in the ability to reproduce colors with the white light emitted by various gas lamps.

In the past, lamps were built for specific applications that required a minimum CRI value, so the choice of lamp was straightforward. For example, tri-phosphor linear fluorescent tubes with a CRI over 80 were commonly used for office lighting, incandescent and halogen lamps with CRI100 were used for homes, and metal halide lamps with a minimum CRI of 85 were used for high-intensity spot lighting. Streetlights were typically equipped with high-intensity sodium lamps that had poor CRI values.

However, with the advent of LED technology, which is the first lighting source that can be used for every application and have the full range of performance and quality level, it is imperative to choose the LEDs with the correct CRI level for the application.

As a general rule, it is best to stay away from light sources with CRI less than 80, unless the light is used for orientation purposes only, outdoors from streetlights, or inside corridors or stairwells. When possible, it is recommended to choose lights with higher CRI values than 80, as they can accurately reproduce colors and improve the overall look and feel of indoor spaces.

The pictures above shows how colors can look different based on the CRI of the light source that illuminates them. A vibrant red under sunlight or a high CRI light can look dull or even orange under a low CRI light.

For residential applications, LED lights with a CRI of at least 90 are recommended for bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. For business applications, lights with a CRI of 80 are suitable for general work in offices, while lights with a CRI of 97 are recommended for offices where work with colors is involved, as well as design studios and photography studios. For commercial applications, LED lights with a CRI of 90 or higher are recommended for electronics stores, hardware stores, and jewelry stores, while lights with a CRI of 98 are ideal for interior design stores.

For medical applications, lights with a CRI of 90 are recommended for dental clinics and general practices, while lights with a CRI of 97 are ideal for hospitals. For hospitality applications, LED lights with a CRI of 95 are suitable for cafes, hotels, and restaurants.

When choosing LED lighting for streetlights, transit/parking lots, storage rooms, warehouses, and photography, a minimum CRI value of 70 or 80 is recommended.

In conclusion, the CRI value is an important consideration when choosing LED lighting for indoor lighting projects, as it can affect the reproduction of colors and the overall look and feel of indoor spaces. By selecting the appropriate CRI value based on the location and activities that occur, you can enhance the quality of the light and improve the overall aesthetic and functionality of the space.

When possible, you should choose lights with higher CRI than 80, as recommended in the table below:

Application

Minimum CRI value

Recommended CRI Value

Residential

Bedroom

Living room

Bathroom

Kitchen

Business

Office, general work

Office, work with colors

Design studio

Commercial

Electronics store

Fashion

Hardware store

Interior design store

Jewelry

Medical

Dental Clinic

General Practice

Hospitality

Café

Hotel

Restaurant

Other

Street light

Transit/parking lot

Storage room

Warehouse

Photography

It’s also important to note that while a high CRI is desirable, it’s not the only factor to consider when choosing LED lighting. Other factors such as color temperature, lumen output, and beam angle can all have an impact on the appearance and functionality of the lighting.

Another important consideration when choosing LED lighting is the potential for flicker. LED lighting is known to produce flicker, which can be visually distracting and cause headaches and eyestrain. Choosing LED lighting with low flicker rates can help mitigate this issue and improve overall visual comfort.

In summary, CRI is an important factor to consider when choosing LED lighting for indoor lighting projects. High CRI lighting can improve color accuracy and overall appearance, while also positively impacting mood and productivity. However, it’s important to consider other factors such as flicker rates, color temperature, lumen output, and beam angle when making a decision.

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CRI for incandescent vs. LED bulbs

GoldDigger said:
I would not be surprised, though, if the cool white and daylight fluorescents have a lower CRI.
Click to expand...

GoldDigger said:
FYI, the color rendering problem is twice as bad or more when dealing with film and digital imaging devices since they have unique frequency response spectra that are narrower than and different from those of the eye.
Click to expand...

Digital image sensors tend to have a wider valid spectra than the eye (they can pick up IR and UV that we can not, but they can lack in subtlety). Issue is that the human eye will merrily color-correct and fill in some of the missing colors while film or sensors won't. (One of the most painful things for a video engineer is to keep the grass the same color through an entire day-time baseball game or golf tournament.)

There's also the problem of the mercury lines, which are very narrow but quite strong.

I found a paper online that shows the spectral graphs of a bunch of lamps; you can see how the CRI relates to the evenness of the output.
http://assets.sylvania.com/assets/documents/faq0041-0800.83f1d8de-3fe1-4d24-a209-d95f6cac74b9.pdf

They generally do, but not because they're "cool white"/etc but because they're cheap junk. You can get flourescents that have a spectra even enough for TV lighting, but they are Not Cheap at all (try $20 for a 4' tube); studios have been using them for years, it's all a matter of getting the right phosphors.Digital image sensors tend to have a wider valid spectra than the eye (they can pick up IR and UV that we can not, but they can lack in subtlety). Issue is that the human eye will merrily color-correct and fill in some of the missing colors while film or sensors won't. (One of the most painful things for a video engineer is to keep the grass the same color through an entire day-time baseball game or golf tournament.)There's also the problem of the mercury lines, which are very narrow but quite strong.I found a paper online that shows the spectral graphs of a bunch of lamps; you can see how the CRI relates to the evenness of the output.

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