Color Rendering and Color Temperature

Color Rendering and Color Temperature of Different Light Sources

Color Rendering (CRI)- An expression of the completeness of the spectral output of a light source. Indicates how accurately a light source will reveal colors in the lit environment. Scale of 1-100, the higher the number the more complete the spectral output and the more accurate the color render.

Color Temperature- A manner of describing the apparent color of a light source. Commonly used to express the color or warm color of a source that deviates from neutral. Expressed in units of Kelvin (K).

Computer Lab

                LED tube Lights

The lighting here rendered the fabrics very well and the color was fairly accurate. The CRI is between 80 and 90, resulting in accurate color rendering. The color temperature is between 4,000 and 6,000K, placing it in the cool light source range

Resource Room

                Fluorescent Lights

This lighting made the fabrics look darker. It is a cool colored light source so the color temperature measures between 3,000-5,000 K. The CRI is between 50 and 60 and should be avoided.

Outside Lighting

                Sodium Vapor

This light source changed the color of the fabrics significantly. The light source has a warm color temperature of about 2250K and a CRI between 0 and 10. This gives it the worst color rendering of all the light sources that were observed.

Studio Classroom

                Halogen

This light source effected the fabrics in different ways. The cooler colors had a poor color rendering while the warm colors were not affected much. The colors of this lamp fall between 2,800K and 3,000K, meaning they have a neutral color tone. The CRI

of halogen lights is between 80 and 100.