What Is CHROMIND? LED Color Calibration Explained

Quick answer: CHROMIND is Rasha's color calibration and control technology for LED fixtures. Every LED is calibrated individually, in software and hardware, and the calibration stays with the fixture. The result: saturated and mixed colors come out true, white light is accurate from 1,800K to 10,000K, and fixtures set to the same value look the same across the rig. The first fixture with CHROMIND is the Rodie X12, a six-color IP65 wash light.

Key points

• What it is: LED color calibration plus integrated electronic control, developed by Rasha.

• What it solves: fixtures that look slightly different from each other, even from the same production run.

• White light: variable from 1,800K to 10,000K, with R9 above 90 at every white point.

• Control: a three-control HSL mode, 16-bit dimming with four dimmer curves, and six PWM settings from 800 Hz to 25 kHz.

• Where to find it: first in Rodie X12. Look for the CHROMIND mark on the box and the spec sheet.

What is CHROMIND?

CHROMIND combines calibration with integrated electronic control to manage how LEDs produce color and white light. It controls how much each emitter contributes, so the fixture produces the mix you asked for.

The name says what it does. Chroma, for color. Mind, for the intelligence behind it.

CHROMIND is the technology behind the light engine, not a single product. Rasha tailors it to each fixture's LED configuration and measures performance in the finished product.

Why do LED fixtures from the same batch look different?

A spec sheet tells you how one fixture performs. A rig may have twenty or more. LEDs vary a little from one to the next, so even fixtures from the same production run can look slightly different when they are set to the same value.

On a cyc or on camera, those differences stand out. One fixture leans green, another shifts magenta. Someone has to correct each fixture by hand at the console, and whatever is left gets fixed in post.

How does CHROMIND keep fixtures matched?

1. Calibrated at the source. Every LED is calibrated individually. The calibration stays with the fixture, so it travels with the unit to every show.

2. Every color, not just white. CHROMIND calculates the right emitter mix for every color the fixture produces, not only the white presets.

3. Stable as it heats. LED color shifts as the engine warms up. CHROMIND holds it steady, so the look at the end of a two-hour show matches the look at the top.

Set twenty fixtures to the same value and they look the same. That is time saved at focus and fewer corrections during the show.

What does calibration do for saturated and mixed colors?

Many fixtures are tuned for white and leave the rest to chance. CHROMIND covers the full color range. Saturated reds, greens and blues stay clean and dense. Mixes like lavender, sky blue and warm gold stay true instead of turning muddy.

The pictures above are stills from Rasha's product film. Cameras and screens change how color reads, so the best way to judge it is to see the fixture in person.

How accurate is the white light?

CHROMIND fixtures offer variable white from 1,800K to 10,000K. That covers candlelight, tungsten, daylight and cooler looks from one fixture.

Why the CRI number is not the whole story

The CRI number (Ra) is an average of only eight soft pastel test colors, R1 to R8. The full CIE test uses fifteen. A fixture can post a high CRI and still render strong reds poorly.

For camera work, three test colors matter most:

• R9, saturated red. It carries skin warmth, lips and wardrobe reds. This is where many LED fixtures fall short.

• R13 and R15, light and medium skin. These decide how people look under the light.

CHROMIND holds R9 above 90 at every white point. At 4,000K the measured CRI is 98.1. For broadcast and film, TLCI is 92 to 95 from 3,500K to 10,000K. You can check every R value at each white point on the CHROMIND page.

How do you control a CHROMIND fixture?

Color by hue and saturation

Six emitters would mean six faders to mix one color. In HSL mode you work with three. Hue picks the color, Saturation sets how deep it goes, and Lightness brings it up from black to the full hue, then on toward white for tints. CHROMIND works out the red, green, blue, amber, cyan and lime behind every setting, so the fixture follows the console smoothly from one color to the next.

16-bit dimming, smooth to black

An 8-bit dimmer has 256 steps. In a slow fade, the last few steps are big enough to see. CHROMIND fixtures add a fine channel to the dimmer and to every color, for 65,536 steps each, so long fades stay smooth all the way to black. Four dimmer curves set how the output follows the fader: Linear, Square Law, Inverse Square Law and S-Curve.

PWM settings for camera work

LED fixtures dim by switching the emitters on and off thousands of times per second. The eye sees steady light. A camera can catch the switching as flicker or rolling bands, more so at high frame rates and fast shutter speeds. CHROMIND fixtures let you choose the PWM frequency: 800 Hz, 1.2 kHz, 2 kHz, 3.6 kHz, 12 kHz or 25 kHz, from the fixture menu or over DMX. The factory default is 25 kHz. Test with your own camera and shutter before the shoot.

CHROMIND at a glance

Where does calibrated color matter most?

• Theater. A cyc or a white set shows every mismatch. Matched fixtures give you an even wash, and accurate reds keep skin and costumes looking right. See our theater lighting page.

• Worship services on camera. When the service is streamed, the camera sees what the room forgives. High R9 and the right PWM setting keep faces natural on screen. See house of worship lighting.

• Concerts and touring. The calibration travels with each unit, so a rig built from different cases still matches. See concert lighting.

• Weddings and corporate events. Linens, flowers and skin tones need to look right in the room and in the photos. See event lighting.

Which Rasha fixtures have CHROMIND?

CHROMIND is built into selected Rasha fixtures, starting with the Rodie X12. More fixtures will follow as they launch.

Rodie X12 is a six-color IP65 wash light with 12 RGBACL LEDs. It is a wash light that also keys. With CHROMIND, it has:

• CRI 96+ and R9 90+, measured from 2,500K to 10,000K

• 83 white presets from 1,800K to 10,000K, plus 78 Lee filter presets

• A 5-channel HSL mode, and 16-bit dimming in the 20 and 25 channel modes

• Six PWM settings from 800 Hz to 25 kHz

• An IP65 rating for semi-permanent outdoor use

See the full specs on the Rodie X12 product page.

How do you spot a CHROMIND fixture?

Look for the CHROMIND mark: R for Rasha, C for CHROMIND. You will find it on the box and on the spec sheet, and as "Powered by CHROMIND" on the product page. The mark tells you every emitter in the fixture was individually calibrated.

See CHROMIND in person

Screens can only show so much. Put a CHROMIND fixture next to what you run now and compare. Bring your costumes, scenery or camera if you can.

• Book a demo with the Rasha team

• Find a Rasha reseller near you

• Contact Rasha, or call +1 (951) 654-3585

Related reading

• Rasha introduces CHROMIND color calibration, starting with Rodie X12

• What to look for in an LED wash light: 10 features that matter

• LED wash lights for theater: how the Rodie X12's features work on stage

• Six-color LED wash lights compared