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.

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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

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

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

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 recordRecord 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 checkFor a warm-dim fixture, keep CCT range, dimming curve, driver compatibility, sample room feedback, and replacement-product note beside the calculator result.

Assumptions. Balanced load and line-to-line voltage assumptions behind this chart.

CCT describes visual appearance and does not by itself prove color rendering, glare control, circadian benefit, or user acceptance.
Actual appearance depends on fixture optics, dimming, surface colors, daylight, product binning, and field commissioning.
Sample review or mockup notes are useful when owner preference, finishes, or color-critical tasks drive the selection.

Code and standard notes. Planning limits that should be checked before final equipment selection.

Use this chart as a reference table; verify owner criteria, fixture manufacturer photometrics, color-quality data, dimming compatibility, and any adopted project requirements before final selection.

How to use this chart

1Capture the CCT resultRecord kelvin value, label, application, and whether the value came from analysis, mixing, or a product selection.

2Add color-quality contextWhen color rendering matters, document CRI, TM-30, spectrum, or manufacturer color data instead of relying on CCT alone.

3Close product follow-upUse the worksheet to list dimming, controls, finish colors, sample review, mockup status, and owner approval needs.

Worksheet checklist. Record source basis, review gaps, and assumptions before using the chart result.

Record visual targetWrite the selected CCT, warm/neutral/cool label, space type, task, user preference, and sample status.
Record fixture dataAdd product family, CRI or TM-30 metric, dimming range, optic, lens, and any tunable-white schedule.
Record approval statusMark whether samples, mockups, owner review, commissioning settings, or replacement-product controls are still open.

Common mistakes to avoid. Review these before turning chart current into an equipment decision.

Assuming two fixtures with the same CCT will look identical without checking product data and optics.
Using CCT alone to claim color quality, comfort, or circadian performance.
Skipping sample or mockup review when finishes, dimming, daylight, or owner preference are central to the project.

Frequently asked questions

These answers explain how to use the chart without turning a quick reference into a final design decision.

Is CCT the same as color quality?

No. CCT describes the warm-to-cool appearance of white light. Color quality also depends on CRI, TM-30 or product data, spectrum, optics, and the task being lit.

Can one CCT work for every room?

A single CCT can simplify maintenance, but task needs, finishes, occupant preference, daylight, and controls may justify different selections.