Mastering CRI & TM-30
How to See Color Accurately With Modern Lighting
URL: /blog/cri-tm30-color-quality
Introduction: Why Color Quality Matters
Light doesn’t just brighten a room — it changes how you see everything inside it.
Your walls, your food, your skin tone, your artwork… all appear different under different light sources.
Two metrics tell the real story of color quality:
CRI (Color Rendering Index) → the classic measure
TM-30 → the modern, more accurate measure
Understanding these two will instantly improve how you choose home lighting.
1. What Is CRI? (Color Rendering Index)
CRI simply measures how accurately a light source shows colors compared to natural light.
The score is from 0 to 100.
• 80 CRI → acceptable, but dull
• 90 CRI → excellent
• 95–98 CRI → premium, natural, vivid
Higher CRI = colors look true, vibrant, and flattering.
2. Why CRI Alone Is Not Enough
CRI measures average color accuracy, but it has limits.
It tells you how accurate colors appear but not:
• how rich they look
• how saturated they feel
• how a wide range of colors shift
This is why the lighting industry created a more complete system: TM-30.
3. What Is TM-30? (The Modern Color Metric)
TM-30 is the advanced, next-generation way to measure color quality.
It evaluates 99 colors instead of CRI’s limited palette.
TM-30 gives two key numbers:
1️⃣ Rf (Fidelity Index)
How accurately colors appear
Similar to CRI, but more detailed
2️⃣ Rg (Gamut Index)
How rich or saturated the colors look
• Rg > 100 = more vivid
• Rg < 100 = slightly muted
Together, Rf + Rg = a complete color story.
4. CRI vs TM-30 (Simple Breakdown)
| Feature | CRI | TM-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Measures color accuracy | ✔ | ✔ (more accurately) |
| No. of color samples | 15 | 99 |
| Shows color saturation? | ✘ | ✔ (Rg) |
| Better for modern LEDs | Moderate | Excellent |
| Recommended for homes | 90+ | Rf 90+ / Rg 98–102 |
Verdict:
For high-quality modern LEDs, TM-30 is the new gold standard.
5. Real-World Example: Why TM-30 Looks Better in Homes
Imagine:
• Your wall paint looks richer.
• Your skin looks healthier.
• Your wooden furniture looks warmer.
• Art looks as intended.
• Food looks fresh and appetizing.
TM-30 helps lights reveal these subtleties.
Good lighting doesn’t change objects —
it changes how beautifully you see them.
6. What Color Quality Should You Choose for Your Home?
A simple rule:
Living Room:
→ CRI 90+, Rf 90+, Rg 98–102
Bedroom:
→ CRI 90+, warm 2700–3000K
Kitchen:
→ CRI 90–95+, Rf 90+, Rg 100+
Dining Area (for food):
→ High Rg = rich food colors
→ Choose Rg ≥ 100 for appetizing visuals
Art Walls:
→ Museum grade: CRI 95+, Rf 95+, Rg 98–102
Explore high-CRI & TM-30 optimized fixtures at Liglite →
7. Quick Checklist for Buying High-Quality LEDs
Look for:
✓ CRI ≥ 90
✓ Rf ≥ 90
✓ Rg 98–102
✓ Flicker-free driver
✓ Adjustable CCT
✓ High-quality LED modules
If these numbers look good — the light will look good too.
Conclusion: Light Quality Changes Everything
When you choose high-quality color rendering (CRI and TM-30), your space becomes:
• warmer
• richer
• clearer
• more natural
• more beautiful to live in
Good light doesn’t just brighten a room —
it reveals its true soul.
Liglite is already moving toward TM-30 optimized collections, ensuring your home looks its best every day.