On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:30:21 +0000 (UTC), (Don
Klipstein) wrote:

In , Paul M. Eldridge wrote:

Hi Mark,

Just with respect to colour rendering, there are no CFLs that can
outperform incandescents in terms of their colour accuracy; the best
available for residential applications top out at 84 to 86 CRI versus
incandescents that have a CRI of 97 to 100. You can have CFLs that
are rich in pink that might arguably enhance skin tones, but they will
end up distorting other colours and, frankly, may God rest her soul, I
don't want my lighting to look like it came out of Barbara Cartland's
boudoir.

With all due respect, I would like to point out that CRI is defined in
terms of blackbody radiation being "The Standard". As a result,
incandescent will achieve 100 or very close.

Some people actually like color rendering that is distorted from "The
Standard".
An example of a lamp that sells because of this is incandescents with
bulbs made of neodymium glass, with the best-known example being GE
Reveal. CRI is (IIRC, anyone knowing better please correct me!) about 80,
with the main color distortions being that red and green objects are
rendered more brightly and vividly than under best-color-match light that
has a CRI of 100. Skin tones come up a little pinker also.

I consider it a shame that GE Reveals actually sell. Not because of any
philosophy of color rendering, but because these lamps are even less
energy-efficient than regular incandescents! The tinted bulb removes some
of the light and does not add any!

- Don Klipstein )

Hi Don,

That's possible. Some CMH lamps such as the new MasterColour Elites
are rich in the reds which could be considered a desirable trait in
many retail environments. On the other hand, I can detect a slight
green tinge from some first generation GE HIR lamps that I'm told is
attributable to the IR-coating. Normally it's not that noticeable,
but there are certain situations where it is unmistakable and
unwelcome.

Cheers,
Paul