The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is an important indicator of the clarity of illumination and the quality of visible colors of all the furniture, decorations, and other objects around you.
Learn more about its meaning and its importance in choosing the most appropriate lighting for your space.
CRI (Colour Rendering Index) concept
Light rendering index is a measure of the ability of light to reflect the nature of the colors falling on it, which makes you see colors in a way that is closer to reality!
Also known as the CRI, it ranges from 0 to 100, with the closer it is to 100, the better it is and the closer it is to the accuracy of natural sunlight.
You can always find this number on the product packaging or when purchasing a modern lighting unit such as a chandelier, lampshade, spotlight, etc.
We will then discuss examples of choosing the best light rendering index for each space, whether indoor or outdoor.
How CRI helps determine the right lighting for your home
High CRI helps give furniture and wall paint a more vibrant appearance, and makes your color vision appear as if it were daylight.
To determine the appropriate type of lighting for your home, we recommend using wall-mounted lighting with excellent color clarity near mirrors , in dressing rooms, reception rooms, and study rooms.
Bulbs with a color rendition below 80 CRI aren't necessarily bad;
It can be used for decoration purposes only, for example on top of a vase or on…
Small table in a distinctive decorative corner.
In rooms and corridors that need dim, relaxing lighting.
In the garage, home garden, outdoor walkways, and courtyard, it is preferable to use lighting with low color clarity because we only need the necessary lighting for night vision, and to reduce the cost of lighting used.
Color clarity and working spaces
Shop owners choose lighting with a high CRI to show the true color of products, make it easier to distinguish between colors of merchandise, and highlight important details.
Sometimes you may find it difficult to differentiate between black and dark blue with poor quality lighting.
This problem is solved by choosing lamps and spotlights with a high degree of color clarity .
Also in clinics, hospitals and offices, it is essential to have a high degree of color clarity of lighting in order to perform tasks with precision and high professionalism.
This is different from luminous power, which is measured in lumens , which works hand in hand with the CRI scale to increase the quality of light.
The relationship between color rendering index and luminance distribution
The relationship between color rendering index (CRI) and luminance distribution is that if the light isn't evenly distributed throughout a room, it will result in dark areas that reduce visual quality, even when using high-CRI lamps! Therefore, both must be considered to achieve optimal visibility and color in any space.
When an interior designer distributes lighting in any space, he or she ensures that the quality of the lighting units varies in terms of CRI.
In any room, it is preferable to combine spotlights with a CRI > 80 in the corners and edges, and support them with lamps with a CRI > 90 in the middle, which supports the overall lighting perfectly.
It is also not economical to use all lighting with high CRI,
The versatility of using high and low light rendering spotlights depending on the purpose saves a lot of money and reduces the overall cost.