CRI

CRI = Color Rendering Index

• For humans to render or see color correctly, we need to shine a light with a full spectrum of colors, to reflect off the object.
• White LEDs usually just generate blue and yellow light, so colors may not be rendered well. 
• CRI is defined with a scale of 0-100. 100 equals sunlight.

How do we use it at Diode?

• In the automotive and offroad industry, it’s simply not of any real importance. We can measure CRI values with our equipment, and most of our lights are around 70 CRI.
• Why isn't it used? Higher CRI means lower visible light output, because the LED must generate a fuller spectrum, instead of maximum output. So LED chip-makers do not make high-CRI automotive LED chips, where maximum output is the primary goal.
• We get questions about this frequently, as CRI is well-understood in residential lighting and photography. 
• Although consumers may believe they need high-CRI lights, in reality, in a moving vehicle, there is no practical improvement in performance or function between a 70 CRI and 90 CRI lamp. 
• CRI is only relevant if you're trying to replicate colors perfectly of objects - namely, in photography. Perfect accuracy in color rendering (seeing the stop sign in the perfect shade of red) is simply not important, and does not contribute to how "well" you can see at night in a vehicle.