Designers, architects, interior designers – here’s why you should be using RAL Digital 5.0

Designers, architects, interior designers and all other professional creatives, have you heard of RAL Digital 5.0?

For those who haven’t, RAL Digital 5.0 is software that allows users to not only easily navigate RAL colour space but also to find the perfect shade of colour and compile complementary colour combinations. Consequently combinations that are based on a wide range of different criteria and specifications can be developed.

Please note that RAL Digital 5.0 was superseded by the RAL Digital Colour Libraries in 2023.

Benefits of RAL Digital 5.0

1. This software contains all RAL Effect, EAL Classic and RAL Design colours for both graphics and CAD programmes whilst also incorporating the major colour values including L*a*b*, RGB and CMYK.
2. Users have the option of storing or exporting their own RAL colour palettes with scratchpad. This option allows users to carry on using palettes in other graphics or CAD programmes or have them available for extensive analyses. Scratchpad integrates the following exporting formats e.g. *.acb, *.png, *.csv, *.txt and *.aco.
3. According to the shade, brightness and saturation of the colour, combinations can be harmonised with the original colour. Users can also receive inspiring recommendations on harmonising colours based on unicoloured, similar, analogous or complementary colour combinations. In addition, complementary colours can also be discovered (calculating complementary colours, complementary contrasts and real harmony).
4. Design aids are available to develop bespoke colour palettes with integrated adjectives out of the RAL BOOKS: “The Colour Dictionary”, “Colours of Health & Care” and “Colours for Hotels”.
5. With the aid of simple text descriptions, the perfect colour set can be discovered by users.
6. RAL colours can be found based on coincidence with relevant colour collections of leading colour manufacturers or in comparison to colorimetric values.
7. Variations of brightness and saturation are available – brightness and chromatic grade can be varied.
8. Supporting colour design with the extensive list of headwords containing suggestions by designers on common colour terms.
9. 3D colour space – shows colour systems in the CIELAB colour space.

Functions of RAL Digital 5.0

1. ‘Capture Colour’ – this allows users to analyse colour from screenshots and their own pictures.
2. ‘Closest Match’ – shows the RAL colour shades that most closely approximate the original colour shade.
3. ‘Proximity View’ – shows the colour shades closest to an original colour in a 3D view

Click here for more information RAL Digital 5.0 free DEMO

Click here if you are interested in buying RAL digital colours from the RAL Webshop.

FAQs – Most frequently asked questions about RAL Digital

FAQs ranging from “which operating systems does RAL Digital 5.0 support” and “what are the system requirements for RAL Digital 5.0” have all been answered over on RAL’s blog entitled: ‘QUESTIONS ABOUT RAL DIGITAL’.

Other RAL Digital Products

RAL COLOR Reader

Another useful RAL digital tool is the RAL Color Reader, a colorimeter which measures a flat surface and identifies the closest RAL colour from the RAL libraries in the accompanying App. This enables both professionals and consumers to capture colour inspiration on-the-go, save, and share it with colleagues, other design professionals or friends and family.

In addition to accurately identifying the best colour match to the measured target, users can tap onto their colour match to find coordinating colours. Use this information to create colour palettes for each project or even individual rooms by saving each capture with a unique reference to the job or room. Several captures may then by organised and accessed together to build the colour palette.