CRI Comparison Tool
Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects, on a scale up to 100. Pick a CRI level below to see how common materials — skin tones, wood, saturated red — shift as fidelity drops.
For the full technical breakdown of CRI Ra, R9 and TM-30, see our High CRI LED Lighting Guide .
For an accurate comparison, view this on a properly color-calibrated display — uncalibrated screens and aggressive "vivid" color modes will distort the swatches below.
Reference
At CRI 95
Skin tone
Reference
At CRI 95
Saturated red
R9-sensitive
Reference
At CRI 95
Walnut wood
Reference
At CRI 95
Foliage green
Reference
At CRI 95
Denim blue
Reference
At CRI 95
Warm white / linen
Typical R9 at CRI 95
85 – 95
R9 measures saturated red separately from the overall CRI average — it's why two lights with the same CRI can render reds very differently.
Illustrative simulation for educational purposes, not a spectrophotometric measurement. Actual color rendering depends on the spectral power distribution of the specific light source.
CRI tiers at a glance
| CRI | Typical R9 | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 0 – 20 | Basic general lighting |
| 90 | 40 – 60 | Quality general and retail lighting |
| 95 | 85 – 95 | Premium architectural, hospitality, residential |
| 98 | 95+ | Museum, gallery, color-critical applications |
Need a specific CRI or R9 spec for your project?
Tell us about your application — our engineering team can recommend the right CRI/R9 combination and share spectral data.