Two shops, the same products, and yet one presentation looks richer than the other. The difference almost always comes down to two numbers: colour temperature and the colour rendering index (CRI).
Colour temperature: the atmosphere
- 2700–3000K (warm white): atmosphere and warmth. Fashion, interiors, hospitality, food with bread and cheese.
- 3500–4000K (neutral white): fresh and businesslike. Electronics, sports, chemists, offices.
- Dim-to-warm: dims from neutral to warm, the way halogen used to; strong in hospitality and showrooms that need different light during the day and in the evening.
Choose one line per zone. Mixing colour temperatures within a single field of view looks restless, and customers spot the difference sooner than you might think.
CRI: colour fidelity
The colour rendering index (0–100) tells you how true to life colours appear. Above CRI 90, skin tones, textiles and fresh food look as they do in daylight. For fashion, food and galleries, CRI 90+ is not a luxury but a sales tool; for warehouses, CRI 80 is enough.
Our True Color COB spots were developed for exactly this purpose: consistent colour rendering across the whole lifespan, including within a single batch.
SDCM: consistency between spots
Less well known, but visible: SDCM (the colour tolerance between individual units). At SDCM ≤ 3, colour differences between spots are not perceptible. Ask about it with every quote, especially with long rows of spots on track.
Advice for your range? We can advise on colour temperature, CRI and light levels for every zone, from window display to warehouse.