RAL is a
colorColor or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, yellow, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
matching system used in
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
. In colloquial speech RAL refers to the RAL CLASSIC system, mainly used for
varnishVarnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. Varnish is traditionally a combination of a drying oil, a resin, and a thinner or solvent. Varnish finishes are usually glossy but may be designed to produce satin or semi-gloss...
and
powder coatingPowder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and a powder coating is that the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form...
.
RAL CLASSIC
In 1927 the German R
eichsa
usschuß für Lieferbedingungen und Gütesicherung" (State Commission for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance) invented a collection of 40 colors under the name of "RAL 840". Prior to that date manufacturers and customers had to exchange samples to describe a tint, whereas from then on they would rely on numbers.
In the 1930s the numbers were changed uniformly to four digits and the collection was renamed to "RAL 840 R" (R for revised). With tints constantly added to the collection, it was revised again in 1961 and changed to "RAL 840-HR", which consists of 210 colors and is in use to this day. In the 1960s the colors were given supplemental names to avoid confusion in case of transposed digits.
As "RAL 840-HR" covered only matte paint the 1980s saw the invention of "RAL 841-GL" for glossy surfaces, limited to 193 colors. A main criteria for colors in the RAL CLASSIC collection is to be of "paramount interest". Therefore most of the colors in it are used on warning and
traffic signTraffic signs or road signs are signs erected at the side of roads to provide information to road users. With increasing speed of transport, the tendency is for countries to adopt pictorial signs or otherwise simplify and standardize signs, to facilitate international travel where language...
s or are dedicated to government agencies and public services (for example: RAL 1004 - Swiss Postal Service, RAL 1021 - Austrian Postal Service, RAL 1032 - German Postal Service). The first digit relates to the shade of the color:
- 1xxx Yellow RAL 1000 Green Beige - RAL 1034 Pastel Yellow (27)
- 2xxx Orange RAL 2000 Yellow Orange - RAL 2012 Salmon Orange (12)
- 3xxx Red RAL 3000 Flame Red - RAL 3031 Orient Red (22)
- 4xxx Violet RAL 4001 Red Lilac - RAL 4010 Telemagenta (10)
- 5xxx Blue RAL 5000 Violet Blue - RAL 5024 Pastel Blue (23)
- 6xxx Green RAL 6000 Patina Green - RAL 6034 Pastel Turquoise (32)
- 7xxx Grey RAL 7000 Squirrel Grey - RAL 7047 Telegrey 4 (37)
- 8xxx Brown RAL 8000 Green Brown - RAL 8028 Terra Brown (19)
- 9xxx White/Black RAL 9001 Cream - RAL 9018 Papyrus White (12)
RAL F9
This collection, which follows the naming of RAL CLASSIC, was invented in 1984. It is made up of only 3 colors (RAL 6031 - bronze, RAL 8027 - leather, RAL 9021 - tar), used by the
BundeswehrThe Bundeswehr comprises the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
for
military camouflageMilitary camouflage became an essential part of modern military tactics after the increase in accuracy and rate of fire of weapons during the 19th century. Until the 20th century armies tended to use bright colors and bold, impressive designs. These were thought to daunt the enemy, foster unit...
coating.
RAL DESIGN
In 1993 a new color matching system was introduced, tailored to the needs of
architectAn architect is trained and licensed in planning and designing buildings, and participates in supervising the construction of a building. Etymologically, architect derives from the Latin architectus, itself derived from the Greek arkhitekton , i.e. chief builder...
s,
designerA designer is a person who designs something. Perhaps the broadest definition is that provided by psychologist Herbert Simon: 'Everyone designs who devises courses of action aimed at changing existing situations into preferred ones.'...
s and
advertisersAdvertising is a form of communication used to influence individuals to purchase products or services or support political candidates or ideas. Frequently it communicates a message that includes the name of the product or service and how that product or service could potentially benefit the consumer...
. It started with 1688 colors and was revised to 1625 colors. Contrary to the preceding systems RAL DESIGN features no names and its numbering follows a scheme based on the CIELAB color space. Each color is represented by 7 digits, grouped in a triple and 2 pairs, representing hue, brightness and saturation. The colors of RAL CLASSIC and RAL DESIGN do not intersect.
RAL EFFECT
RAL EFFECT comprises 420 solid colors and, as a particular highlight, 70 metallic colors. It is the first collection from RAL to be based on waterborne paint systems. No use is made of
heavy metalsA heavy metal is a member of an ill-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties, which would mainly include the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanoids, and actinides. Many different definitions have been proposed—some based on density, some on atomic number or atomic...
such as lead, cadmium and chromates.
The newly developed, multifunctional double color fan RAL E2 underlines the character of RAL EFFECT. RAL EFFECT allows eco-efficient color production for all paint and lacquer producers.
RAL DIGITAL
The software for architects, interior decorators and all those who deal with colors in a creative way. It integrates the colors of RAL CLASSIC, RAL EFFECT and RAL DESIGN into graphics and CAD programms.
RAL Colour Feeling
"Colour Feeling 09/10" is primarily designed as a professional planning tool for designers, architects, interior designers, interior decorators and painters. It is meant to be a source of inspiration on how to creatively combine the main trend colors for the coming two years. But also general consumers can be inspired by the work book to develop their own ideas and to create their personal color design.
Complete list of all RAL CLASSIC colour names
See also
- BS
British Standards are produced by BSI Group which is incorporated under a Royal Charter and is formally designated as the National Standards Body for the UK...
Color Standards
- Color chart
In color-related fields, a color chart is a physical arrangement of standardized color samples, used for color comparisons and measurements such as in checking the color reproduction of an imaging system. Color charts are used to calibrate and to profile graphic devices, such as digital cameras and...
, other color systems and charts
- Federal Standard 595
The Federal Standard color system, officially named Federal Standard 595B - Colors Used in Government Procurement, is a United States Federal Standard, issued by the General Services Administration...
- Natural Color System
The Natural Color System is a proprietary perceptual color model published by the Scandinavian Colour Institute of Stockholm, Sweden. It is based on the color opponency description of color vision, first proposed by German physiologist Ewald Hering...
- Pantone
Pantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System , a proprietary color space...
External links