Electrical reference chart
Color Temperature Chart
Use this worksheet after the calculator result to document CCT, visual label, CRI, TM-30 or color-quality note, application, dimming behavior, sample or mockup status, and manufacturer-data follow-up.
Quick reference table
A color temperature chart is a calculator-led planning worksheet for visual appearance, not a proof of color quality by itself. It turns a CCT result into a warm, neutral, cool, daylight, or tunable-white selection note while keeping CRI, TM-30, dimming, sample review, mockup status, and owner preference visible.
Color temperature planning labels
| CCT range | Planning label | Follow-up note |
|---|---|---|
| 2200K to 3000K | Warm appearance | Common for hospitality, residential, and low-glare preference checks |
| 3000K to 3500K | Warm-neutral appearance | Often reviewed for offices, corridors, and mixed-use areas |
| 3500K to 4100K | Neutral to cool appearance | Compare with task visibility and finish colors |
| 4100K to 5000K+ | Cool or daylight appearance | Check glare, comfort, color quality, and owner preference |
| Tunable white | Variable CCT | Document schedule, controls, dimming, and commissioning settings |
Color selection worksheet checks
| Selection issue | Record from product data | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Color rendering | CRI, TM-30, or spectrum note | CCT alone does not describe how colors appear |
| Dimming behavior | Dimming range, driver type, warm-dim or tunable behavior | CCT can shift or flicker under controls |
| Sample review | Sample, mockup, owner approval status | Surface finishes and daylight change appearance |
| Fixture family | Product line, optic, lens, distribution | Two fixtures with the same CCT can look different |
| Maintenance consistency | Replacement lamp or fixture binning note | Future replacements can drift in color appearance |
How to use this chart
Capture the CCT result
Record kelvin value, label, application, and whether the value came from analysis, mixing, or a product selection.
Add color-quality context
When color rendering matters, document CRI, TM-30, spectrum, or manufacturer color data instead of relying on CCT alone.
Close product follow-up
Use the worksheet to list dimming, controls, finish colors, sample review, mockup status, and owner approval needs.
Formula basis
CCT is recorded in kelvin. For simple mixing screens, weighted CCT = (CCT1 x intensity1 + CCT2 x intensity2) / total intensity.
- CCT is correlated color temperature in kelvin.
- Intensity is the relative output share used in a simple two-source mixing estimate.
- CRI or TM-30 data should come from product documentation when color rendering matters.
- Application notes describe the space, task, schedule, and user preference behind the selection.
Worked examples
Office fixture color selection record
Record 3500K as the selected CCT, the office application, CRI or TM-30 note, dimming requirement, sample status, and owner approval before procurement.
Hospitality warm-dim check
For a warm-dim fixture, keep CCT range, dimming curve, driver compatibility, sample room feedback, and replacement-product note beside the calculator result.
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Frequently asked questions
These answers explain how to use the chart without turning a quick reference into a final design decision.