RAL Shade Card

About RAL Shade Card

RAL Shade Card

As an Authorized dealer we are engaged in providing the broad assortment of wide gamut of optical instruments. It is a system of reference colours, enabling many industrial products to be identified, compared and classified, ideal for use with Colour Assessment Cabinets.

 RAL is a coding system to define colors, for example coating colors. The system was developed in 1927 in Germany and stands for Reichs Ausschuss  Lieferbedingungen (Imperial Commission for Delivery Terms). The color definitions are the industry standard in many markets, such as construction and traffic safety.

The standard is managed by the Deutsches Institut   G tesicherung und Kennzeichnung (German Institute for Quality Assurance and Identification). You can find more information about the RAL color system on Wikipedia and in the video below.

RAL Classic

The German State Commission for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance started with a collection of 40 colours, named 'RAL 840', in 1927. Later, in the 1930's, all RAL numbers where changed to a uniform four-digit system, which was named 'RAL 840 R' (R for revised). The system was revised again to 'RAL 840-HR' in the 1960's. RAL 840-HR contains 210 matte painted colors and is still the standard for today. Next to 'RAL 840-HR', RAL Classic contains 'RAL 841-GL', which was determined in the 1980's. RAL 841-GL contains 193 colors for glossy surfaces.

RAL 841-GL primary standards Of all 196 RAL CLASSIC colours

high gloss

A5-sized (14.8 x 21.0 cm), colour illustration A6-sized (10.5 x 14.8 cm) binding colour samples for colour matching and quality control including X-Y-Z-values, colour distance from the original standard and reflectance curve incl. protection case cards are also individually available

RAL 840-HR primary standards Primary standards of all 213 RAL CLASSIC 

semi matt

A5-sized (14.8 x 21.0 cm), colour illustration A6-sized (10.5 x 14.8 cm) binding colour samples for colour matching and quality control including X-Y-Z-values, colour distance from the original standard and reflectance curve incl. protection case cards are also individually available

The primary standards RAL 840-HR contain all 213 RAL CLASSIC colours in semi matt and RAL 841-GL contain 196 RAL CLASSIC colours in high gloss. The cards are binding colour samples for colour matching and quality control and contain XYZ-values, the specification about the colour distance from the original standard and the reflectance curve.

RAL 840-HR single cards: Semi matt single cards with RAL CLASSIC colours

semi matt

• A5-sized (14.8 x 21.0 cm), colour illustration A6-sized (10.5 x 14.8 cm)
• Binding colour samples for colour matching and quality control
• Also available as primary standards with 213 RAL CLASSIC colours

RAL K6 single sheets 

• Colour samples of all 213 RAL CLASSIC colours
• Semi matt
• A4-sized (21.0 x 29.7 cm)
• Also available as ring binder with all 213 RAL CLASSIC colours

RAL F9 Camouflage colours

• A5-sized (14.8 x 21.0 cm), colour illustration A6-sized (10.5 x 14.8 cm) binding colour samples for colour matching and quality control

RAL 6031-HR Bronze green for non-camouflage applications

contains gloss information for 60 ° und 85 ° angles as well as colorimetric measures RAL F9 is a collection of camouflage colours, used by Germany's Armed Forces. The cards are binding colour samples for colour matching and quality control and contain XYZ-values, the specification about the colour distance from the original standard and the reflectance curve.

Comprehensive Color Reference Tool

With 213 precisely coded RAL Classic shades, this shade card is an indispensable resource for industry professionals involved in color selection and verification. Its easy-to-use fan deck design allows for side-by-side comparison, supporting accuracy in project workflows across various applications.


High-Quality Construction and Finish

Each shade is printed on premium coated paper, ensuring true color representation and durability. Depending on your needs, you can choose between gloss or matte finishes. The compact and lightweight design ensures convenience for handheld use and portability.


User-Friendly and Multilingual

Navigating color choices is efficient thanks to the clearly marked, uniquely numbered shades and the inclusion of a multilingual legend. The protective case ensures all color samples remain in pristine condition, making it ideal for frequent, on-the-go use.