Understanding CRI (Color Rendering Index) 1-15 and Light Color Theory
The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a critical measure of how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects compared to natural daylight. The CRI scale ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating better color accuracy. A light with a high CRI ensures that colors appear more natural and true to life.
CRI 1-15 refers to the evaluation of 15 specific colors that are used to calculate the overall CRI score. The first eight colors (R1-R8) are pastels,( and the world standard of measurement) while the remaining seven (R9-R15) are more saturated and include difficult-to-render shades like strong reds (R9), yellows, greens, blues, and skin tones. R9 is especially crucial because it represents deep reds, a color often hard to reproduce in lower-quality lighting. For makeup artists, this deep red value is indispensable for accurately rendering skin tones, blush, lip colors, and even prosthetics, especially under the harsh scrutiny of high-definition cameras.
The Makeup Light products feature a CRI of 97-98 across all 15 colors, ensuring that both subtle and bold shades appear as they should in all lighting conditions. This accuracy is essential for makeup artists who work in environments such as film, TV, red carpet events, and print photography, where perfect color fidelity is non-negotiable.
WHY COLOR MATTERS IN LIGHTING:
Human eyes rely on the presence of all colors in the light to see objects accurately. When certain wavelengths (colors) are missing from the light source, our ability to perceive color accurately is compromised.
In professional settings, such as film, television, and photography, poor color rendering can lead to makeup that looks inconsistent on camera versus real life. It can affect how skin appears under different lighting environments, creating an imbalance between on-set makeup and the final image or footage. High CRI lighting ensures that makeup artists can confidently create looks that will translate seamlessly across all mediums, from camera to real life.
Cameras rely less on CRI because they can digitally adjust how colors appear. However, higher CRI lighting still helps capture more accurate colors and better image quality.
For a makeup artist, high CRI lighting is essential to ensure accurate color representation. A low CRI can distort colors, leading to incorrect makeup choices that may look unnatural in different lighting environments.
At The Makeup Light, all of our lights have a CRI of 97-98 across colors 1-15. With such precise color rendering, The Makeup Light ensures that makeup professionals can execute their craft with confidence.