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RAL is perhaps the best-known color coding system in Europe. But did you know that it encompasses much more than the familiar 216 colors from the RAL Classic fan? Read all about the three RAL collections, their coding systems, and when to use which system.
RAL stands for "Reichsausschuß für Lieferbedingungen," a German standardization committee founded in 1925. The first color collection followed in 1927 with just 40 colors. The goal was simple but ambitious: a universal color language for industry and trade.
RAL Classic is what most people know. The collection currently comprises 216 colors, each with a 4-digit code:
Since 2007, there is RAL Effect: a collection of 490 colors specifically developed for sustainable applications. All colors are based on water-soluble paint systems without heavy metals.
RAL Effect uses a different coding system:
The collection consists of:
RAL Design System plus is the most comprehensive, and from a color-scientific perspective the most interesting, RAL collection. With 1,825 colors based on the CIELAB color space, it offers:
LLL HHH CC
Where:
Example: RAL 040 70 20
For accurate color evaluation, RAL offers physical samples. Important to note is the distinction between:
Each sample type has its own tolerance and price. For critical applications, always use original Register cards.
| Application | Recommended System | | --------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | Architecture | RAL Classic or Design System plus | | Industry | RAL Classic | | Sustainable products | RAL Effect | | Precise color communication | RAL Design System plus | | International cooperation | RAL Design System plus | | Existing specifications | Follow specification |
RAL provides digital color data for each color:
Important: RGB values are always indicative. For critical applications, use physical samples or spectral data.
Each RAL color has a specified tolerance:
In practice, production tolerance for matching is usually larger: ΔE*ab 2-3 for many applications.
No, the three collections are different systems with different coding and different color selection.
Not really. In different markets, NCS, Pantone, or Munsell can be dominant. RAL Classic is primarily dominant in Central Europe.
Only CIELAB values are accurate. RGB/CMYK values are always conversions with limitations.
RAL offers much more than 216 colors. The choice between Classic, Effect, and Design System plus depends on your application, sustainability requirements, and communication needs. For critical color applications, invest in the right reference materials and work with validated instruments.
Stichting Nederlands Kleur Instituut info@kleurinstituut.nl +31 (75) 6169977
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NCS colors that start with 00 are first edition notations from 1979 — discontinued since 1995. Why they still appear, what the difference is and what to look out for.
LRV, lightness L*, and spectral values each describe in a different way how a color reflects light. Learn the technical differences between energy reflection, perceptual brightness, and spectral curves using RAL 3000 as an example.