Which RAL Colour Guide do I need?

What is the difference between RAL CLASSIC, RAL EFFECT and RAL Design System Plus?

RAL Classic

RAL Classic has been the established global standard of colour for public institutions and private industry for more than 100 years, providing safety and signal colours and colours that meet DIN standards. The 216 modern shades are for verifying colour for paint and coatings by interior designers and craft manufacturers and for industrial design to communicate colour and standardise industry processes.

What are DIN Standards?

These are popular colour standards regularly used by industries, for example, in the colour coding of telecommunications cables.

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RAL K1 - Booklet

An introduction to the RAL CLASSIC range.

RAL K1 is a compact booklet with 213 timeless RAL CLASSIC colours, with colours displayed as 14 colours per centrally divided page; ideal for communicating colour in the studio, on site with clients and during meetings.

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£17.40

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£17.40

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RAL K5 Chart 2 Book Set - Gloss & Semi-Matte

Match colours and develop colour combinations.

All 216 Classic colours, including essential metallic, safety and signal colours, each displayed on a single page, ideal for identifying and matching colours and communicating ideas between designers, architects and customers.

RAL K5 is available on semi-matt, glossy and as a two-book bundle.

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£91.20

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£91.20

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The RAL CLASSIC K7 colour guide shown next to its cardboard slipcase with the wording "water based" presented on the front of the packaging to show that the colours included are now water based.

RAL K7 - Colour fan deck

Find complimentary colours and contrasting tones.

This colour fan includes all 216 RAL CLASSIC colours, with five colours on each page. The RAL K7 is ideal as a quick reference guide for designers, architects and industrial clients, aiding decision-making on-site.

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£17.40

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£17.40

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A sturdy hard case housing the RAL P1 Plastic samples, each within its own information sleeve and labelled with their corresponding colour code.

RAL P1 – 100 Plastic Set with Case

Plastic colour chips for product design.

Use the RAL P1 Set to demonstrate the relationship between colour and material with clients and as a physical and tactile reference when matching to colours from your RAL fan guide. Ideal for colour professionals within architecture, product design and the crafts, these polypropylene plastic opaque samples have three thicknesses and the highest colour saturation and luminosity for comparison.

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£1,314.00

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£1,314.00

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RAL EFFECT

Water-based colour charts with an aqueous coating system for environmentally friendly paint colour production. These are ideal for paint and varnish manufacturers, with applications in interior design and architecture, product design and graphic design.

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RAL E3 Effects Fan Deck

Quickly compare metallic hues with corresponding solid colours!

The RAL E3 is ideal for architects, designers and industrial applications, for matching colours and decision-making on-site with clients or at the studio. With seven colours per page, the fan guide shows each of the 70 metallic hues against six corresponding solid colours to compare colour families and match materials perfectly.

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£66.00

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£66.00

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An image of the RAL E4 colour reference guide fanned out, showing one metallic paper colour sample per page.

RAL E4 effects fan deck (metallic)

Visualise colour on metallic materials and develop beautiful combinations.

The RAL E4 shows 70 metallic hues as full-bleed single-page swatches with a high-quality finish. Ideal for architects, designers and manufacturers, the guide allows you to visualise and match metallic colours against materials and designs.

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£43.20

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£43.20

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Browse the full RAL Effect Range See more

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£254.40

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All 2,108 RAL Colours – Exclusive 3-in-1 Bundle

RAL

This 3-in-1 bundle includes all RAL colours from the Classic, Effect and Design range, encompassing all you need for colour referencing. Enhanc...

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£254.40

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The RAL EFFECT E4 colour guide fanned out for browsing metallic colour samples. One colour is shown per fanned out page and it is shown next to its protective box.

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£43.20

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£43.20

RAL E4 effects fan deck (metallic)

RAL

RAL E4 EFFECTS Fan Deck The RAL E4 EFFECTS Fan Deck offers all 70 RAL EFFECT metallic colours based on acrylic paints and provides a definitive r...

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£43.20

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£66.00

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RAL E3 Effects Fan Deck

RAL

The RAL E3 EFFECT Fan Deck showcases a mix of 420 solid colours and 70 metallic colours from the RAL EFFECT E3 palette. A definitive resource for a...

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£66.00

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£6.00

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RAL A6 Single Sheets

RAL

RAL A6 Single SheetsThis is a CtO product – terms and conditions applyIntroducing the RAL Single Sheet A6 Collection!Elevate your colour selection ...

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£6.00

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£6.00

RAL DESIGN SYSTEM Plus

This complete collection of 1,825 shades is an essential tool for creative professionals in architecture, design, industry, and the skilled trades. The Design System Plus colours are oriented towards the CIELab system and are ideal for industrial and product design and designed for ease of colour communication, creativity, and experimentation. With colour names shown in English, German, French, Russian and Chinese for international collaboration.

What is the CIELab system?

CIELab is the Commission Internationale de l'éclairage, or International Commission on Illumination, the international authority on light and colour spaces. The CIELab colour space displays colour as humans see it, through lightness and the unique colours red, green, blue and yellow, based on the results of laboratory-conducted colour-matching experiments.

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The box for the RAL Starter Kit, from the RAL Design System Plus range.

RAL Starter Kit Design Box

An introduction to the DESIGN SYSTEM plus range.

RAL Starter Kit is a 150 component set containing a selection of 10 colour tones and grey range from DESIGN SYSTEM plus and popular wood tone values from the CLASSIC range. Ideal for creating colour concepts for professional interior and product design.

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£130.80

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£130.80

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Set of two sturdy hard cases housing the RAL P2 Plastic samples, each within its own information sleeve and labelled with their corresponding colour code.

RAL P2 200 Colour Plastic Set with Case

Match plastic colours and textures.

RAL P2 contains 160 Design System Plus colours as 200 A6 polypropylene plastic samples. Features four opaque and one transparent shade for each of the 39 colour groupings plus greyscale that make up the full-colour system. View colours and glossy, matt, and rough textures in a tactile format in three varying thicknesses. Ideal for design and manufacturing.

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£2,508.00

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£2,508.00

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The RAL Color Reader device shown next to its orange box. The RAL Color Reader is used by interior designers to match colours from a surface to their corresponding RAL colour and connects via bluetooth to your mobile phone via an app.

RAL Colour Reader

How can I find the correct colour?

Take away the frustration of spending hours trying to match the exact colour you've seen and avoid miscommunication throughout the process using the RAL Colour Reader.

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£118.80

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£118.80

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RAL The Colour Dictionary Publication

How to find colour inspiration

Learn about colour and develop ideas with The Colour Dictionary, a source of inspiration for trend consultants, designers, architects, and craftspeople interested in colour theory.

Enhance your projects in advertising, interior design, and decoration by browsing colour combinations, understanding the psychology behind the use of colour and expressing your ideas through application.

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£134.40

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£134.40

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RAL Colour Master Publication

Experiment with colour

RAL Colour Master: The Interactive Design Book for Creative Minds encourages experimentation with colour and material, fostering creative play for unique and innovative design ideas. Conceptualise designs and test patterns, materials and colour concepts to inspire your next design project.

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£18.00

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£18.00

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What is the difference between RAL CLASSIC, RAL EFFECT and RAL Design System Plus?

RAL Classic

An introduction to the RAL CLASSIC range.

Match colours and develop colour combinations.

Find complimentary colours and contrasting tones.

Plastic colour chips for product design.

RAL EFFECT

Quickly compare metallic hues with corresponding solid colours!

Visualise colour on metallic materials and develop beautiful combinations.

RAL DESIGN SYSTEM Plus

An introduction to the DESIGN SYSTEM plus range.

RAL D2 Colour Fan

RAL D3 Colour Toolbook

RAL D4 Colour Atlas

RAL D8 Design Box

Match plastic colours and textures.

How can I find the correct colour?

How to find colour inspiration

Experiment with colour

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