HIGH CRI VALUE EQUALS CORRECT COLOR REPRODUCTION
UNDERSTANDING CRI VALUE
When you enter the world of lighting, you may encounter concepts you haven't come across before. There are several terms that are important to know in order to ensure you get a light source of the desired quality. Here, the CRI value plays a significant role. Here you can learn more about the concept of CRI value.
CRI VALUE TELLS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE LIGHT SOURCE
CRI VALUE TELLS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE LIGHT SOURCE
The CRI value tells you how well your light source reproduces colors and thus how the surroundings will appear in the light. CRI stands for Color Rendering Index. Natural light from the sun has a CRI of 100, which means that all colors in sunlight are reproduced clearly and accurately.
A low CRI value in a light source, on the other hand, makes the surroundings appear gray and dull because the colors are not reproduced clearly enough. In the kitchen, it is especially important that ingredients are displayed in the correct color, partly so you can assess their freshness and partly to have a good experience.
Therefore, the CRI value should not be confused with the amount of light in the room (lumens) or the light intensity in an area (lux). Instead, it is about the colors the light enables you to see.
A high CRI or Ra value reproduces food products exactly as they are.
AVOID DULL AND SAD COLORS
If you stand in your kitchen and cook under a lamp with a low CRI value, your meat will appear less red, and your vegetables will have a dull, unappetizing color. In the mirror in the bathroom, the tones of your skin, hair, and eyes will appear lackluster.
Similarly, the color choices in the rest of your home decor will not be represented fairly with a low CRI value and will therefore never live up to their full potential.
On the other hand, a product with a light source above 90 in CRI value will appear attractive and realistic. If you work in retail, studies show that the light's ability to accurately render colors on the surfaces it illuminates greatly influences the attention and willingness to buy when customers are presented with a product. Furthermore, research indicates that good lighting affects both your mood and well-being.
In good light, colors are rendered accurately, and the illuminated surface appears beautiful and detailed – just as it is designed to be.
FIND QUALITY LIGHTING AT LOEVSCHALL
Next time you shop for lighting, it's recommended to pay attention to the light source's CRI value. At Loevschall, we only manufacture LED lights of the highest quality with a minimum CRI value of 90. Additionally, we also offer a wide range of LED lighting with a CRI value of 95 or higher.