RAL is an international color classification system created in Germany in 1927 by the Reichs-Ausschuss für Lieferbedingungen (hence the acronym RAL).
It provides a standardized method to identify and reproduce colors accurately across different materials and manufacturers.
The most widely used standard is RAL Classic, which includes 213 predefined colors, each represented by a four-digit numeric code (for example, RAL 9010 – Pure White, RAL 3020 – Traffic Red, RAL 6005 – Moss Green, RAL 7016 – Anthracite Grey).
The first digit of the code indicates the color family (yellow, red, blue, grey, etc.).
In addition to RAL Classic, there are other systems such as RAL Design System+ (with more than 1,600 shades defined through CIELab coordinates), RAL Effect (including metallic finishes), and RAL Plastics (optimized for plastic materials).
While RAL is mainly used in architecture, industry, and manufacturing to ensure color consistency in paints, coatings, and metal parts, Pantone is more common in graphic design, printing, and fashion, where digital and print accuracy are essential.
Although some approximate conversions exist between RAL and Pantone, the two systems are based on different color spaces and cannot be perfectly matched.
In short, the RAL code is a universal industrial language for color — reliable, standardized, and widely recognized across Europe and beyond.
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