Väritoistoindeksi

Väritoistoindeksi, often abbreviated as CRI (Color Rendering Index), is a quantitative measure of a light source's ability to accurately reproduce the colors of various objects compared to a reference light source, typically a natural daylight source. It is a scale from 0 to 100, where a CRI of 100 indicates that the light source renders colors perfectly like the reference source.

The CRI is determined by comparing the spectral power distribution of the light source in question to that of a reference source. This comparison is done across a set of eight standard color samples, which are designed to represent a wide range of hues. The higher the CRI value, the more faithfully the light source will reproduce colors. For instance, a light bulb with a CRI of 90 will generally show colors more accurately than a bulb with a CRI of 70.

In practical applications, a high CRI is desirable in environments where accurate color perception is important, such as art galleries, museums, retail spaces, and photography studios. In residential settings, while not always a primary concern, a higher CRI can lead to a more pleasant and natural ambiance. Conversely, low CRI light sources can cause colors to appear distorted or unnatural, which can be problematic in specific scenarios. Different industries may have specific CRI recommendations based on their needs.