What does CRI stand for?
- Martin Mikkelsen
- Last updated19. August 2025
CRI stands for Color Rendering Index and is a measurement of how well a light source reproduces colors compared to daylight.
CRI is rated on a scale from 0 to 100, where a higher value indicates better color rendering.
CRI is important because it affects how our surroundings and objects appear under artificial lighting. A light source with a high CRI will render colors in an object or environment more naturally and realistically than a light source with a lower CRI. This can make a significant difference in professional settings such as offices, stores, or art galleries, where accurate color rendering is crucial to highlight products or artworks.
In addition to CRI, there are also a number of other technical concepts that can be beneficial to consider when designing a room with light.
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Martin Mikkelsen
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Why CRI is important in your store.
Imagine you have a clothing store where you need to showcase shirts in different colors. If you haven’t ensured a high CRI for the spotlights in your store, the color of the shirts will appear differently when your customers step outside and see them in daylight – it does not make for happy customers.
Another example where color rendering is important is in a fruit and vegetable section. If you have ensured high CRI in your lighting, the tomatoes will appear vibrant, red, and irresistible. However, if your CRI is low, they may appear dull.
A CRI of 100 means that all colors in a given color spectrum are accurately represented in the light emitted by the light source. A CRI of 0 means there is no color rendering at all. Therefore, 100 is the best possible value. Light sources with a CRI of 90 or above are generally considered to have good color rendering.
Remember to also consider the color temperature.
It is important to note that CRI does not take into account the color temperature of the light. The color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) and indicates whether the light is warm or cool. Light with a high color temperature (above 5000K) can tend to appear bluish, while light with a low color temperature (below 3000K) can tend to appear yellowish. Therefore, it is important to consider both factors, CRI and color temperature, when choosing lighting.
Overall, CRI is an important factor to consider when choosing lighting as it can have a significant impact on how our surroundings and objects appear. It is important to select a light source with a high CRI to ensure accurate color rendering and to highlight products or artworks in professional environments.
