Colors play a vital role in daily life, changing the overall aesthetics of any place. It matters a lot how your eyes look at an object and gives a soothing feel. However, understanding CRI is highly important to ensure high-quality lighting and comfort. With good quality lighting, an object feels lively, while bad lighting will make it look lifeless. Understanding the aspects of light is necessary to get the perfect one installed at your place. Let's explore this quick guide and understand CRI in depth. Part 1. What is Color Rendering Index (CRI)? CRI stands for Color Rendering Index, and it shows a quantitative result to evaluate the color quality of light. CRI is a specialized unit that only depicts the color accuracy, while other parameters include color temperature and brightness. The human eyes are highly sensitive to colors, and a small difference may create discomfort or an unpleasant feeling. The light with an accurate CRI will make the objects look more natural and livelier. You see the exact colors they have. Suppose an apple is placed on a plate; it would appear more vibrant and colorful if there is a high CRI light. In comparison, if you have placed it under low CRI light, it would appear dull or colorless despite high brightness. Thus, CRI is a critical factor that means a lot to gain visual comfort and attract others as well. The major applications include households, industries, hospitals, and restaurants. Part 2. CRI Lighting Chart: What Do the Numbers Mean? CRI lighting scale typically ranges from 0 to 100. The numbers help us to evaluate the color quality of any specific light. A larger scale indicates that the light source will assist you in seeing the actual color of the object. In short, the higher the CRI, the greater will be the color visibility. However, a lower CRI indicates a high color distortion. The CRI requirement is completely dependent on the application. For instance, a photography studio will require 90+ CRI for higher visuals. On the other hand, a CRI value between 80 and 90 would be recommended for homes. Let's see a quick comparison to understand what each category shows. CRI Visual Appearance Quality Application Low CRI (< 80): Gray, colorless, inaccurate colors Poor Parking lots, security lights, garage lights, and warehouses Standard CRI (80-90): Feels natural with minimal distortion Moderate Classrooms, homes, offices High CRI (90+): True colors, natural, and vivid Professional Photography studio, makeup and arts studio, Hospitals, markets or retail stores, and museums Part 3. CRI vs Other Metrics: CCT, TM-30, and Gamut People usually mix CRI with other terms related to lighting. Each metric describes a distinct attribute and helps you decide the best overall conclusion. CCT stands for Correlated Color Temperature, which shows the lighting temperature in Kelvin. You might have heard of cool and warm temperature lighting; they are associated with this metric. A warm light may have 3000K, while a cool temperature can reach up to 5000K. However, they both have different CRI values. TM-30 is an advanced metric that shows the color accuracy and saturation. The technology uses almost 99 colors for an enhanced color rendering. However, Gamut confirms the level of saturation for the colors. It lets you determine if the light source is undersaturated or oversaturated. CRI is a critical factor to consider, but other factors also matter to ensure a professional and advanced lighting system that meets the requirements. Part 4. Testing for CRI- How to Measure Color Rendering Index CRI testing is usually done in laboratories with highly precise instruments. A spectroradiometer is used to determine the actual color quality and ensure consistent light is passed through it. They are typically compared under a reference light. However, traditional methods include finding the Ra value by illuminating eight color samples, which makes a specific score for each. However, the traditional method is limited to such an extent. Lighting products are usually tested by the manufacturer through authentic and certified laboratories. A detailed highlight on the product will help the customers to check the color rendering efficiency before buying. Part 5. Why High CRI Matters by Application High CRI is necessary for applications requiring color accuracy and precision in tasks. It directly impacts the aesthetics of a place. For instance, in households, a high CRI is required to attain an attractive look and to reduce eye strain. It will also provide a comfortable environment for relaxation. In commercial spaces such as retail stores, high CRI really matters due to the product visibility. With a high CRI, the products will pop out and look more appealing to the customers. Similarly, High CRI is required in hospitals where the doctors need a clear focus on their patients. It helps the doctors to look more closely at the skin, blood flow, and other critical features, helping in diagnosis. Moreover, the most common requirement for high CRI is the photo and makeup studios. They require highly detailed work to ensure the right colors appear without any distortion. At last, they are required for restaurants to appeal to customers. It helps make the dish fresher and more attractive to the customers. Part 6. Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right CRI Light To choose the CRI light, it is recommended to always look at the rating on its packaging. It is usually labelled as CRI or Ra on the product packaging. You will find it on the specification table where temperature, power, and lumens are highlighted. However, products that have no label are usually below an 80 CRI value. These bulbs are not recommended as the objects will appear to be dead and colorless in this lighting. Additionally, choosing the right CRI depends on the space selected. You should also consider other metrics to get the right choice, including good brightness, an appropriate CRI value, and energy efficiency. The CRI targets for specific rooms are as per the standard. Kitchen: 90+ CRI is required for natural looks and precision-related tasks. Bedroom: At least 90-95 CRI is required for visual comfort and relaxation. Offices: 80-90 CRI value is required to eliminate eye strain and headache. Makeup/Photography/Arts Studio: 95+ CRI value is required to ensure color accuracy and natural looks. Retail Stores: 90-95 CRI is recommended for aesthetics and product appearance Part 7. High CRI LED Lighting Recommendation High CRI LED Bulb For color accuracy, Govee smart RGBWW LED bulbs are recommended due to prolonged performance. These bulbs can provide 1200 lumens with 90+ CRI to make your home more appealing. They operate at 12W and provide an option to adjust the bulb colors. You can have full remote access through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. It allows you to use multiple modes, such as music mode, to sync the lights with your desired music. Moreover, you can group multiple bulbs to control them with a single command. Shop all Govee Smart Light bulbs > High CRI LED Strip For high CRI LED strip lights, Govee Strip Light 2 Pro is recommended for enhanced color blending. It comes with high CRI as well as high Lumens to provide next-level comfort for your home, office, or other space. It has multiple presets to set it according to your mood and requirements. It also supports a voice assistant to have remote access. You can enjoy personalizing the lighting effects from the app and adjusting its size by cutting from the right place. The critical part is its self-developed G1151 chip that helps for a detailed visual experience and 16-bit color processing precision. Shop all Govee LED Strip Lights > High CRI Lamp The tree lamp from Govee is popular for High CRI delivery. It is a floor-standing lamp with three movable lights. The lamps are flexible and can move in a 360-degree range to get the desired lighting direction. It has 64+ preset modes, which you can change on every occasion. It allows you to adjust the colors and brightness with smart voice assistants such as Alexa. The lamps are integrated with a 16-bit chip that has almost 16 billion color blending options available. With such technology, you can achieve a higher CRI and get the desired lighting according to your space. You can sync the lamps with 7 different music modes, which also include a microphone option. Shop all Govee Floor lamps > FAQs about Color Rendering Index 1. What is a good color rendering index? A good CRI value starts from 80 and goes beyond. The higher the value, the greater the color appearance. However, 80-90 CRI is usually used for spaces like homes and offices. A 90+ CRI value is used for critical applications such as photography studios and retail stores. 2. Is a CRI of 80 good? Yes, it is a good CRI but considered a low value. The colors might appear, but not look natural and lively.It may not work for most of the applications due to the precision and accuracy required in their work type. However, a CRI value between 80 and 90 would be an ideal choice for any location, excluding studios. Conclusion CRI is a crucial factor that helps you see the natural colors of an object. It also gives you a relaxing feel by eliminating the grayscale and poor vision. With the right choice, you can enjoy working at your home, office, or any other place. It not only promotes precision but also helps to enhance aesthetics that are necessary for any place.