RAL COLOUR STANDARD

RAL is a colour management system used in Europe that is created and administered by the
German RAL gGmbH [de][1] (RAL non-profit LLC), which is a subsidiary of the German RAL
Institute [de]. In colloquial speech, RAL refers to the RAL Classic system, mainly used
for varnish and powder coating, but now plastics as well. Approved RAL products are provided with a
hologram to make unauthorised versions difficult to produce. Imitations may show different hue and
colour when observed under various light sources.

RAL colour space system[edit]

See also: List of RAL colours

RAL CLASSIC K5 colour fan

RAL Classic[edit]

In 1927, the German group Reichs-Ausschuß für Lieferbedingungen (Imperial Committee for Delivery
and Quality Assurance) invented a collection of forty colours under the name of "RAL 840". [2] Prior to
that date, manufacturers and customers had to exchange samples to describe a tint, whereas from
then on they would rely on numbers.[3]

In the 1930s, the numbers were changed uniformly to four digits and the collection was renamed to
"RAL 840 R" (R for revised). Around 1940, the RAL colours were changed to the four-digit system, as
is customary. Army camouflage colours were always recognized by a "7" or "8" in the first place until
1944. With tints constantly added to the collection, it was revised again in 1961 and changed to "RAL
840-HR", which consists of 210 colours and is in use to this day. In the 1960s, the colours were given
supplemental names to avoid confusion in case of transposed digits. At the international furnishing
fair imm Cologne, 13-19 January 2020, two new colours were presented in the Classic
Collection: RAL 2017 RAL orange and RAL 9012 Cleanroom White.[4]

"RAL 840-HR" covered only matte paint, so the 1980s saw the invention of "RAL 841-GL" for glossy
surfaces, limited to 193 colours.[5] A main criterion for colours in the RAL Classic collection is to be of
"paramount interest". Therefore, most of the colours in it are used on warning and traffic signs 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).[6] The first
digit relates to the shade of the colour:
 Range
Range First Last Quantity
Name

RAL 1xxx Yellow RAL 1000 Green beige RAL 1037 Sun yellow 30

RAL 2000 Yellow

RAL 2xxx Orange RAL 2017 RAL orange 14
orange

RAL 3xxx Red RAL 3000 Flame red RAL 3033 Pearl pink 25

RAL 4xxx Violet RAL 4001 Red lilac RAL 4012 Pearl blackberry 12

RAL 5xxx Blue RAL 5000 Violet blue RAL 5026 Pearl night blue 25

RAL 6xxx Green RAL 6000 Patina green RAL 6039 Fibrous green 37

RAL 7048 Pearl mouse

RAL 7xxx Grey RAL 7000 Squirrel grey 38
grey

RAL 8xxx Brown RAL 8000 Green brown RAL 8029 Pearl Copper 20

RAL 9xxx White/Black RAL 9001 Cream RAL 9023 Pearl dark grey 15

RAL F9[edit]

This collection, which follows the naming of RAL Classic, was invented in 1984. [citation needed] It is now
made up of ten colours ( RAL 1039-F9 Sand beige, RAL 1040-F9 Clay beige, RAL 6031-F9
Bronze green, RAL 6040-F9 Light olive, RAL 7050-F9 Camouflage grey, RAL 8027-F9
Leather brown, RAL 8031-F9 Sand brown, RAL 9021-F9 Tar black and RAL 6031-F9 HR
Bronze green semi-matt, used by the Bundeswehr for military camouflage coating.[7][8]

RAL Design[edit]

In 1993 a new colour matching system was introduced, tailored to the needs
of architects, designers and advertisers. It started with 1,688 colours and was revised to 1,625
colours and again to 1,825 colours. The colours of RAL Classic and RAL Design do not intersect.

Contrary to the preceding systems, RAL Design features no names and its numbering follows a
scheme based on the CIELAB colour space, specifically cylindrical CIEHLC. Each colour is represented
by seven digits, grouped in a triple and two pairs, representing hue (000–360 degrees, angle in the
CIELab colour wheel), lightness (same as in L*a*b*) and chroma (relative saturation). The three
numeric components of almost all RAL Design colours are multiples of 5, the majority are divisible by
10.[9]

Conversion from RAL Design number tuple to CIELAB

 RAL 210 50 15 converts to L* = 50, a* = −12.99, b* = −7.5, for instance.

RAL Effect[edit]

RAL Effect comprises 420 solid colours and seventy metallic colours. It is the first collection
from RAL to be based on waterborne paint systems.

RAL Digital[edit]

RAL Digital is software that allows designers to navigate the RAL colour space.

See also[edit]

 Colour chart, other colour systems and charts

 Federal Standard 595

 Natural Colour System

 Pantone

References[edit]

1. ^ "Imprint". RAL Farben. Archived from the original on 6 Jun 2016. Retrieved 15
June 2016.

2. ^ "RAL Colours history". Retrieved 15 June 2016.

3. ^ "RAL Historie" (PDF). Retrieved 15 June 2016.

4. ^ "RAL COLOURS at imm cologne 2020 – The international furnishing fair". ral-
farben.de. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.

5. ^ "The RAL CLASSIC Colour Collection". Retrieved 15 June 2016.

6. ^ "How is the RAL CLASSIC colour collection structured?". Archived from the
original on 9 Aug 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.

7. ^ "RAL F9". Retrieved 15 June 2016.

8. ^ "Does RAL CLASSIC include the camouflage colours of Germany's Armed Forces?".
Archived from the original on 28 Oct 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.

9. ^ "Overview of all RAL Design colours". Archived from the original on Nov 30, 2020.
What Does Ral Mean?

If you’ve ever chosen a new vehicle or office colour, you’ve more than likely used something similar
to the RAL system, but what does RAL mean?

In short, it’s a colour matching system to help you find that perfect shade of off-white for your latest
paint project. Think along the lines of the colour charts you see in home improvement shops or the
pantones used in printing.

The Beginnings of RAL

RAL stems back to 1927 when the German RAL group created their first ever colour collection to
standardise colours. The original colour chart had 40 colours, meaning manufacturers and customers
could get the exact tint they wanted without needing to swap physical colour samples.

But what does RAL mean and how is it related to colours? RAL is an acronym for Reichs-
Ausschuss für Lieferbedingungen, which roughly translates to the National Commission
for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance.

Their work paved the way for colour matching as we know it, and nearly 100 years later, the original
40 colours are still in use. But a few more have joined along the way, with over 2,500 verified colours
now in use.

How Does the RAL System Work?

As the RAL system grew, so did the categories of colours. These are the four main RAL colour charts:

 RAL Classic - The original collection, consisting of 213 colours, all with 4-digit numbers and
additional names to identify them.

 RAL Design - These colours were a later addition from 1993. It comprises over 1600 colours for
architects, designers, and advertisers needing a broader range of tones. They’re all different
from any of the classics and have a 7-digit identification code relating to the hue, lightness, and
chroma/intensity of each tone.

 RAL Effect - The third chart uses waterborne paint systems and doesn’t use any heavy metals.
There are 420 solid colours that balance with 70 metallics.

 RAL Plastics - The colour standard specifically for plastics. It comprises of 300 colours based on
popular hues from the Classic and Design ranges.

When asking, “what does RAL mean?” RAL often refers to the classic colour chart unless stated
otherwise.

It’s worth noting all official RAL fan decks now have a hologram to help prevent forgery. Imitation
colours can look different in certain lighting conditions, but you know exactly what you’re getting with
RAL.

Choosing the Best RAL Shade for You

Whether you’re in the market for concrete floor paint, vehicle chassis paint, or marine paint, we’ve
got the right shade for you. Take some time to browse our RAL Colour Chart to see the wide selection
on offer.
Of course, you’ll never get a totally accurate colour through a computer or phone screen due to the
differing screen settings. Please do contact us if you need any extra help choosing your paint.

What is RAL?

RAL is a universal colour-matching system used in manufacturing – for industrial paint, coatings and
plastics.

In a nutshell:

 RAL is a universal colour-matching system to ensure consistency

 RAL references are used a lot for powder-coating on architectural façades

 Instead of using samples, architects and designers can specify a unique colour name and
number

 There are more than 2,500 colours in the RAL range, including metallics

 There are no universal codes for anodising - it’s best to request a sample

And it’s the most commonly used colour referencing system on architectural façade projects for
powder-coating finishes.

RAL colour references have been around for nearly 100 years, with RAL Classic the most famous and
widely used system. There are 213 colours in that range, all with a unique four-digit number - from
green beige (1000) to pearl dark grey (9023).

Today, RAL Design and RAL Effect offer many more colour variations, including metallics, and are
used extensively by architects. There is now a range for plastics too.

 RAL Classic, 213 colours, XXXX

 RAL Design, 1,825 colours, XXX XX XX

 RAL Effect, 495 colours, XXX-X

Why use RAL numbers?

In a word, consistency. Instead of exchanging colour samples and hoping for the best, architects and
designers can specify a unique colour name and number, and know that the finished product will look
exactly how they want.

In the façade sector, RAL colours are only used to reference powder-coating applications, There are
no universal codes for anodising - colours are usually unique to each applicator, so it’s best to ask for
a sample.

A word of warning about CAD and desktop design

Computer screens are not able to accurately display RAL colours. Rather than choosing or matching a
colour online, it’s best to refer to a physical RAL swatch book.

Is there an eco-friendly range?

RAL Effect has 495 metallic and solid colours within an acrylic paint system. It’s the first RAL range
based on waterborne paint, and is ISO compliant and eco-friendly as it avoids the use of heavy
metals in paint.