Ability to show colors as expected is rated by the?

The ability to show colors as expected in lighting is assessed by the Color Rendering Index (CRI). CRI is a quantitative measure of the ability of a light source to accurately reproduce colors in comparison to a natural light source, like sunlight. It is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating better color rendering capability. A light source with a high CRI (typically above 80) allows colors to appear more vivid and closer to their true appearance, which is especially important in applications such as retail, art galleries, and photography, where accurate color representation is critical.

Other metrics, such as lumens and footcandles, relate to the amount of light emitted or the illuminance level in a given area but do not provide information about how well colors are represented. Color temperature, while it indicates the warmth or coolness of a light source in Kelvin, does not address the accuracy of color rendering, making CRI the essential measure in evaluating color fidelity in lighting design.