The RAL CLASSIC colour collection

Which blue do we actually mean when we talk about sky blue? How can we precisely define which colour tone we mean? In order to do so we need a common „language“, which a once defined colour is always and every where the same.

More than 80 years ago RAL already paved the way, which today provides clear conditions in communications regarding the topic of colour world wide: RAL determines colour tones and gives them definite numbers and names. Over 100 approximate blue tones in the colloquial language turned into exactly 23 distinct blue-tones in the RAL CLASSIC standards, e.g. „RAL 5015 sky blue“. They are understandable for everyone and provide a secure navigation – and the world over „RAL 5015 sky blue“ is the exactly the same colour tone.

 

RAL 1000 Grünbeige	RAL 2000 Gelborange	RAL 3000 Feuerrot	RAL 4010 Telemagenta	RAL 5014 Taubenblau	RAL 5017 Verkehrsblau
RAL 6011 Resedagrün	RAL 6034 Pastelltürkis	RAL 7000 Fehgrau	RAL 7035 Lichtgrau	RAL 8017 Schokoladenbraun	RAL 9017 Verkehrsschwarz

A few examples of the RAL CLASSIC colours.
Here you will arrive at the complete list with colour depictions and descriptions in multiple languages.

 

The story of the colour collection

Our world is colourful, colours are connected to everything that we perceive with our eyes. Nature presents us with a seasonal interplay of colour tones, and since the beginning of time we have been designing our individual living space with our colourful wishes and imaginings. Time and again we create a new colourful worlds to live in, those influence our vitality, creativity and emotions. Fashion- and product designers, graphic artists and architects, design engineers and artists, painters and interior decorators – they all communicate with colour.

Since 1927 RAL, with its authoritative standards, has formed the interface and communications foundation for providers as well as users of colours. At that time, on assignment from State and Economy, RAL developed a colour collection for paints and colours. The intention was to give the paint- and pigment industry assistance in the streamlining of their productions and to avoid any coordination problems in the use of colours, for the purpose of standardisation of delivery conditions. Originally the table consisted of 40 colours. Over the decades – always in answer to demand – the palette grew to the grand number of 2325 colour tones. Through strict quality control the users are being offered the highest precision. Thus in 80 years an exemplary success story was written, today the RAL-colours are a worldwide determining standard in industry, trades and design as well as for the professional colour users.

RAL Colour Regions according to Designations

The Region...	begins at..	ends at..	Colours
1xxx Yellow	RAL 1000 Green Beige	RAL 1034 Pastel Yellow	27
2xxx Orange	RAL 2000 Yellow Orange	RAL 2012 Salmon oOrange	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

Here you will arrive at the complete list with colour depictions and descriptions in multiple languages.

Colour cards and Register

The base registers are available in a silk-matt glaze (RAL 840-HR) or in a glossy (RAL 841-GL) version. Different types of fans enable a quick and exact overview. The exactitude of the RAL-colour samples is continuously tested with a spectral analytical process.

The colour samples for the RAL CLASSIC colours are available in multiple types.

 

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