When choosing photography or video lights, you’ll often see technical specifications like CRI, TLCI, and SSI. These numbers are frequently used in marketing, but for beginners, the real question is simple: which of them actually matter in daily shooting?
Why Color Accuracy Matters in the First Place
Before diving into the numbers, it’s important to understand why they exist. Color accuracy affects:
Skin tones looking natural or unnatural
Product colors matching reality
How much time you spend correcting colors in post-production
Even if exposure is perfect, poor color accuracy can make an image feel “off.”
What Is CRI?
CRI (Color Rendering Index) measures how accurately a light source reproduces colors compared to natural light.
Scored on a scale from 0 to 100
Higher values indicate better color reproduction
For photography, a higher CRI generally means:
More natural skin tones
Fewer strange color shifts
Better results straight out of the camera
CRI is a helpful baseline, especially for beginners, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
What Is TLCI?
TLCI (Television Lighting Consistency Index) evaluates how a light performs specifically for cameras, rather than for the human eye.
Designed for video and filmmaking
Indicates how much color correction may be needed in post
If you shoot video, interviews, or hybrid photo/video projects, TLCI is often more practical than CRI.
What Is SSI?
SSI (Spectral Similarity Index) compares a light source’s spectrum directly to a reference light, such as daylight or tungsten.
More precise and technical
Mainly used in professional cinema and broadcast workflows
For most beginners and general photographers, SSI is informative—but not essential.
Do Beginners Need to Chase These Numbers?
Not really.
For learning and everyday use:
Look for lights with consistently good color accuracy
Avoid extreme color shifts or unstable output
Focus on reliability rather than perfect scores
Small differences in numbers matter far less than how stable and predictable a light is in real shooting conditions.
The Practical Takeaway
Good color accuracy makes photography easier, faster, and more enjoyable. When your light behaves predictably, you spend less time fixing problems and more time focusing on composition, emotion, and storytelling.
Understanding CRI, TLCI, and SSI helps you make smarter equipment choices—but your eye, experience, and creativity will always matter more.