Enter your light’s CRI, R9, and TLCI values to get a full quality assessment and broadcast suitability rating. Compare multiple lights side by side. Includes a complete explanation of every metric.
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Light nameCRI (Ra)R9TLCIWatts
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CRI and TLCI rating scale — industry standards
ScoreRatingSuitable for
0-69PoorWarehouses, car parks, basic utility only
70-79AcceptableGeneral commercial, offices. Not for photography.
80-84GoodPhotography OK. Video acceptable but not ideal.
85-89Very goodVideo production, online content, YouTube.
90-95ExcellentProfessional photography, broadcast TV, cinema.
96-100ExceptionalMedical, fine art, colour-critical work. Museum grade.
R9 (deep red) scale — critical for skin tones
0 (absent)255075100 (perfect)
R9 measures deep red rendering. Skin, lips, and blood appear on camera using wavelengths around 630-700nm. A light with CRI 90 but R9 of 0 will make skin look sallow and unhealthy. Always check R9 separately — it is NOT included in the standard CRI (Ra) score.
CRI, R9, TLCI and SSI — explained
CRI (Ra) — Color Rendering Index. Averages R1-R8 color samples. Score 0-100. Does NOT include R9 (red). A light can score CRI 95 with terrible red rendering. Developed in 1965 — still the most widely quoted metric.
R9 — Deep red rendering. Critical for skin tones, blood, and warm colors on camera. R9 below 50 causes flat, de-saturated skin. R9 above 90 means excellent skin rendering. Always check this separately from CRI.
TLCI — Television Lighting Consistency Index. Developed by EBU (European Broadcasting Union) specifically for video cameras. More accurate than CRI for broadcast work. TLCI 85+ is broadcast quality. TLCI 75+ is acceptable for online video.
SSI — Spectral Similarity Index. Developed by AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) for cinema. Compares a light’s spectrum to a reference (daylight or tungsten). SSI 75+ is good for cinema. Not yet widely reported on consumer lights.
TLCI vs CRI for video. A light with CRI 95 / TLCI 65 will look terrible on video cameras. Always prioritise TLCI for video work. For photography, CRI + R9 are the key metrics.
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