Gernot Hoffmann

Fluorescent Illuminants and Tubes

0.0

F7
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
0.0
0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620 660 nm 700

Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Introduction
2
3
Fluorescent Illuminants F1-F12 / View 6500K
9
Fluorescent Illuminants F1-F12 / View 4000K
Commercial Designations 15
References 16

1. Introduction
This doc shows data sets for fluorescent illuminants according to [1].
The calculations were done by SpectroCalc [4] and [9].
The reference list is the same as in [4].
It is intended to add informations about available fluorescent tubes.
It seems that no manufacturer uses the scientific notation F1-F12.
All color coordinates are calculated for Y=1 and L*=100.
The dE calculation is meaningless.
Chapter 2:
RGB values are calculated for sRGB. RGB values would be out of gamut if the actual white point is not
near to the white point for sRGB (6500K). The rendering intent is Absolute Colorimetric (AbsCol).
Therefore the RGB values are normalized by defining the largest value as 255. After the normalization
the sRGB tone reproduction curve is applied (gamma encoding), which delivers RGB.
The normalization is indicated by norm instead of a gamut warning.
The simulated color patches would show a 6500K illuminant on a monitor which is near to sRGB
neutrally gray. Warmer illuminants are looking quite yellow-ish and too dark. If the patch would be
blown up to screen size with removed menue areas, then the appearance would be better because
of adaptation.
Chapter 3:
Standard tubes have often a correlated color temperature of about 4100K. Here we use 4000K as
Viewing Reference color temperature, because 4100K is not available in the data base.
Now we can compare warmer and cooler tubes, so far represented by illuminants.
In a real environment, a 5000K tube, e.g. for inspecting prints, looks already rather cool, especially if
4000K tubes are available as standard office light.
The RGB calculations are still done for Rec.709 primaries and the sRGB tone reproduction curve,
but the working space white point is at 4000K. The rendering intent is AbsCol, as in chapter 2.

2.1 Fluorescent Illuminants F1+F2 / View 6500K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F
2 cyan F2

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

0.927
.0000
.0377

0.999
.0000
0.6739

x
y
z

0.33
0.337
0.349

0.372
0.375
0.252

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

zoom 4
zoom 4

D65
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
-6.2340
4.7204
-  5.56 3.047

R
G
B

247.20 255.0000
255.0000 2.2363
246.630 73.425

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.

0.9 x .0

643 K
norm
30.9370

426 K
norm

2.2 Fluorescent Illuminants F3+F4 / View 6500K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F3
2 cyan F4

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

.030
.0000
0.4993

.0920
.0000
0.3

x
y
z

0.409
0.394
0.96

0.4402
0.403
0.567

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

zoom 4
zoom 4

D65
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
2.4259 2.66
30.3 44.3652

R
G
B

255.0000 255.0000
97.962 0.335
34.25 07.3632

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.

0.9 x .0

3442 K
norm
6.09

2920 K
norm

2.3 Fluorescent Illuminants F5+F6 / View 6500K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F5
2 cyan F6

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

0.9090
.0000
0.92

0.9734
.0000
0.6026

x
y
z

0.33
0.3452
0.34

0.3779
0.32
0.2339

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

zoom 4
zoom 4

D65
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
-9.7426
.572
-  2.3925 9.902

R
G
B

24.555 255.0000
255.0000 22.5405
23.6299 63.7253

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.

0.9 x .0

6327 K
norm
34.204

44 K
norm

2.4 Fluorescent Illuminants F7+F8 / View 6500K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F7
2 cyan F

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

0.9504
.0000
.075

0.9643
.0000
0.242

x
y
z

0.329
0.3292
0.350

0.345
0.356
0.2956

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

zoom 4
zoom 4

D65
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
-2.406
-0.0037
-  9.22
0.0726

R
G
B

255.0000 255.0000
254.923 234.776
254.740 205.3009

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.

0.9 x .0

643 K
norm
9.5029

4997 K
norm

2.5 Fluorescent Illuminants F9+F10 / View 6500K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F9 zoom 2.5

2 cyan F0 zoom 2.5

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

.003
.0000
0.6794

0.963
.0000
0.235

x
y
z

0.374
0.3727
0.2532

0.345
0.35
0.2955

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

D65
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
6.7362
-0.0775
2.5396
0.262

R
G
B

255.0000 255.0000
24.5370 234.925
72.2572 205.290

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.

0.9 x .0

442 K
norm
4.604

499 K
norm

2.6 Fluorescent Illuminants F11+F12 / View 6500K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F zoom 2.5

2 cyan F2 zoom 2.5

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

.0096
.0000
0.6437

.02
.0000
0.392

x
y
z

0.305
0.3769
0.2426

0.4370
0.4042
0.5

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

D65
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
7.74 9.4349
5.75 43.400

R
G
B

255.0000 255.0000
2.35 3.570
65.075 09.0949

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.

0.9 x .0

3999 K
norm
30.306

29 K
norm

3.1 Fluorescent Illuminants F1+F2 / View 4000K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F
2 cyan F2

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

0.927
.0000
.0377

0.999
.0000
0.6739

x
y
z

0.33
0.337
0.349

0.372
0.375
0.252

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

zoom 4
zoom 4

4000K
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
-6.2340
4.7204
-  5.56 3.047

R
G
B

66.0676 243.259
206.24 25.769
255.0000 255.0000

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.

0.9 x .0

643 K
norm
30.9370

426 K
norm

3.2 Fluorescent Illuminants F3+F4 / View 4000K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F3
2 cyan F4

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

.030
.0000
0.4993

.0920
.0000
0.3

x
y
z

0.409
0.394
0.96

0.4402
0.403
0.567

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

zoom 4
zoom 4

4000K
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
2.4259 2.66
30.3 44.3652

R
G
B

255.0000 255.0000
239.003 2.6226
209.4367 6.392

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

10

0.

0.9 x .0

3442 K
norm
6.09

2920 K
norm

3.3 Fluorescent Illuminants F5+F6 / View 4000K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F5
2 cyan F6

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

0.9090
.0000
0.92

0.9734
.0000
0.6026

x
y
z

0.33
0.3452
0.34

0.3779
0.32
0.2339

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

zoom 4
zoom 4

4000K
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
-9.7426
.572
-  2.3925 9.902

R
G
B

67.373 243.3072
23.7 255.0000
255.0000 24.266

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

11

0.

0.9 x .0

6327 K
norm
34.204

44 K
norm

3.4 Fluorescent Illuminants F7+F8 / View 4000K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F7
2 cyan F

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

0.9504
.0000
.075

0.9643
.0000
0.242

x
y
z

0.329
0.3292
0.350

0.345
0.356
0.2956

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

zoom 4
zoom 4

4000K
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
-2.406
-0.0037
-  9.22
0.0726

R
G
B

65.477 205.666
200.566 22.7769
255.0000 255.0000

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

12

0.

0.9 x .0

643 K
norm
9.5029

4997 K
norm

3.5 Fluorescent Illuminants F9+F10 / View 4000K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F9 zoom 2.5

2 cyan F0 zoom 2.5

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

.003
.0000
0.6794

0.963
.0000
0.235

x
y
z

0.374
0.3727
0.2532

0.345
0.35
0.2955

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

4000K
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
6.7362
-0.0775
2.5396
0.262

R
G
B

244.72 205.76
24.592 22.9
255.0000 255.0000

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

13

0.

0.9 x .0

442 K
norm
4.604

499 K
norm

3.6 Fluorescent Illuminants F11+F12 / View 4000K

Manufacturers:

2.0

SpectroCalc
Fluorescent

.
.6

Illuminants

.4

 red F zoom 2.5

2 cyan F2 zoom 2.5

.2

RGB space

.0
0.6

Wm
Wn
Prims
Trc
Intent

0.4

Spectrum generator

0.2

Mode

Perfect reflector

Col

X
Y
Z

.0096
.0000
0.6437

.02
.0000
0.392

x
y
z

0.305
0.3769
0.2426

0.4370
0.4042
0.5

0.

0.0
30

420

460

500

540

50

620

660

.0

700

4000K
D50
Rec.709
sRGB
AbsCol

740 lam 70

b*
00

2000
205
2222
2353
2500
2677
257
3077
3333
3636
4000
4444
5000
574
6667
000
0000

0.9
520
55

0.

525

530

535
540

50

545

0.7

550
555

505

560

0.6

00 a*

25000

565
570

500

575

0.5

0.2

490

45

00.0000 00.0000
7.74 9.4349
5.75 43.400

R
G
B

254.943 255.0000
255.0000 22.900
254.734 70.7379

CCT
RGB

0000
D93
000
D65
6667
574
D50
5000
4444
4000
3636
3333
3077
257
2677
2500
2353
2222
205
2000

0.3

495

25000

0.4

50
55
590
595
600
605
60
620
635
700

L*
a*
b*

dE

40

0.
0.0
0.0

475
470
460
30

0.

0.2

Bars

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

14

0.

0.9 x .0

3999 K
norm
30.306

29 K
norm

4. Commercial Designations
By courtesy of the author:
D. C. Rich
Light Sources and Illuminants: How to Standardize Retail Lighting
Textile Chemist and Colorist, vol 30, No. 1, pp 8-14, 1998.
Type

Commercial Illuminant
designation

Chromaticy
x
y

Standard

DAY

F1

0.3131

0.3371

6430 76

Standard
CWF

Standard
WHITE

F2

0.3721

0.3751

4230

64

F3

0.4091

0.3941

3450

57

Standard

WWF

F4

0.4402

0.4031

2940

51

Standard

DAY

F5

0.3138

0.3452

6350

72

Standard

LWF

0.3779

0.3882

4152

59

Broad band

D65

F7

0.3129

0.3292

6500

90

Broad band

D50

F8

0.3458

0.3586

5000

95

Broad band

CWX

0.3741

0.3727

4150

90

0.3458

0.3588

5000 81

0.3805

0.3769

4000 83

0.4370

0.4042

3000 83

F6

F9

3 narrow bands TL85

F10

3 narrow bands TL84

F11

3 narrow bands TL83

F12

CCT
K

CRI
Ra

Abbreviations:
DAY
CWF
WHITE
WWF
LWF
CWX
TL85
TL84
TL83

Daylight
Cool White Fluorescent
Warm White Fluorescent

The nomenclature by Radium

and Osram is at present not clear.
G.H.

Cool White Delux

Philips 5000K
Philips 4000K
Philips 3000K

15

5. References
[1]

R.W.G.Hunt
Measuring Colour
Fountain Press, England, 1998

[2]


[3]

International Color Consortium

http://www.color.org

[4]

G.Hoffmann
Color Mathematics by PostScript
http://docs-hoffmann.de/colcalc03022006.pdf

[5]

G.Wyszecki + W.S.Stiles
Color Science
John Wiley & Sons, New York .., 1982/2000

[6]

G.Hoffmann
CIE (1931) Color Space
http://docs-hoffmann.de/ciexyz29082000.pdf

[7]

G.Hoffmann
CIELab Color Space
http://docs-hoffmann.de/cielab03022003.pdf

[8]

G.Hoffmann
ColorCalc PostScript Code
http://docs-hoffmann.de/colcalc03022006.txt
Rename as *.eps

[9]

G.Hoffmann
SpectroCalc PostScript Code
http://docs-hoffmann.de/specalc03022006.txt
Rename as *.eps

[10]

G.Hoffmann
Color Management by ICC profiles
http://docs-hoffmann.de/cmsicc08102003.pdf

[11]

http://www.brucelindbloom.com

This doc
http://docs-hoffmann.de/fluorescent02062006.pdf

Specification ICC.1:21001-12
File Format for Color Profiles (Version 4.0.0)
http://www.color.org/newiccspec.pdf

Gernot Hoffmann
June 02 / 2006 February 06 / 2013
Website
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