The RAL K5 Gloss Colour Fan is a professional colour specification tool containing all 216 RAL CLASSIC colours in a large, full-page gloss format. Designed for industrial manufacturing, product development, architecture, interior design, graphic design, coatings, paints and engineering, it gives professionals a compact but highly visual reference for selecting, comparing and communicating RAL colours.
RAL CLASSIC is one of the most widely recognised colour systems for industrial colour communication. It is used internationally across paints, coatings, architecture, machinery, product surfaces, signage, furniture, interiors, public infrastructure and technical applications. The RAL K5 Gloss fan brings the complete RAL CLASSIC collection into a practical format for everyday colour planning, on-site comparison and professional specification.
The fan contains 216 RAL CLASSIC colours, including solid colours, safety and signal colours, metallic and mica-effect colours, 15 pearl colours and 6 luminous colours. Together, these colours form a historically developed collection of essential industrial shades used across many sectors worldwide. For companies that need a shared colour language between design, production, suppliers and clients, the RAL K5 Gloss is a key reference.
Each colour is displayed as a full-area page measuring 5 × 15 cm. This is one of the central advantages of the K5 format. Larger colour areas make it easier to judge the real visual effect of a colour compared with smaller overview fans. Users can evaluate intensity, brightness, undertone, contrast and combination potential with greater confidence. This is especially useful when colours are used on product surfaces, painted components, architectural elements, interior details or coated materials.
The gloss finish makes this version particularly relevant for glossy paints, varnishes, coatings, polished surfaces, plastic components, lacquered products, automotive applications and high-sheen design contexts. Gloss changes the way colour is perceived. A colour in gloss can appear more saturated, deeper or more reflective than the same colour in a semi-matt or matte finish. When the intended application has a glossy surface, the RAL K5 Gloss offers a more appropriate visual reference than a semi-matt fan.
The RAL K5 Gloss is manufactured with water-based paints. This modern production approach significantly reduces VOC emissions compared with conventional nitrocellulose lacquers and supports more environmentally conscious colour sample production. The water-based, low-solvent colours also offer greater UV resistance and improved long-term protection against yellowing, helping the fan remain a reliable reference when handled and stored correctly.
Each page shows one RAL colour on the front. On the back, the four-digit RAL CLASSIC colour code and the colour name are printed in eight languages. This makes the fan especially useful for international projects, where teams, suppliers and clients may work across different countries and technical languages. A clear code and multilingual colour name help reduce ambiguity in colour communication.
For industrial manufacturing, the RAL K5 Gloss supports colour decisions for coated metal parts, plastics, machinery, appliances, tools, furniture, consumer goods, technical components and surface finishes. It helps teams specify colour early in the development process and communicate that choice through design, engineering, sourcing, sample approval and production.
For paints, varnishes and coatings, the fan is a practical reference for selecting colours for glossy or high-sheen applications. It can be used by paint suppliers, coating specialists, contractors, designers and clients to compare colour options before producing drawdowns, wet paint samples or final production references. It also supports conversations around colour combinations and application-related design.
In architecture and interior design, the RAL K5 Gloss can be used for doors, windows, metal frames, fixtures, signage, furniture, built-in elements, lighting components, public interiors and glossy architectural surfaces. The compact fan format makes it easy to take to meetings, construction sites, showrooms or client presentations.
For product design and industrial design, the fan is useful when developing colour concepts for consumer products, electronics, appliances, mobility products, packaging components, hardware and plastic parts. The large full-page swatches allow designers to hold colours close to materials, samples or prototypes and assess whether a colour supports the intended product identity.
The K5 format also supports graphic design and visual communication when RAL colours are used in signage, wayfinding, environmental graphics, branded surfaces, displays or exhibition design. While digital colour values are helpful in early creative work, physical colour standards are essential when final output depends on paint, coating, surface finish and real viewing conditions.
The fan deck is compact, portable and protected by a robust U-shaped cover. This makes it suitable for daily use in offices, studios, workshops, factories, showrooms, client meetings and on-site environments. The pages can be fanned out for quick comparison or held directly next to surfaces and materials.
From larger order quantities, the RAL K5 colour fan can also be produced with a company imprint on the protective cover. This makes it suitable not only as a professional colour tool, but also as a branded reference for sample cases, sales teams, specification packages or client-facing colour communication.
The RAL K5 Gloss should be understood as a professional colour selection and communication tool. For binding colour matching, production control or formal quality assurance, official RAL primary standards and suitable viewing conditions may be required depending on the application. The K5 Gloss is ideal for selection, comparison, presentation and cross-functional colour communication.
For international teams working with glossy RAL CLASSIC colours, this fan deck offers a practical and authoritative solution. It supports confident colour decisions, clearer specification and more consistent communication across design, architecture, manufacturing, coatings and industrial production.
Key Benefits
- Complete RAL CLASSIC colour fan in gloss finish
- All 216 RAL CLASSIC colours included
- Includes 15 pearl colours
- Includes 6 luminous colours
- Full-page colour display, 5 × 15 cm
- One colour per page
- Glossy surface for high-sheen applications
- Produced with water-based paints
- Reduced VOC emissions during production
- Improved UV resistance and yellowing protection
- RAL code and colour name on the back
- Colour names printed in eight languages
- Compact portable fan deck format
- Protective U-shaped cover
- Suitable for design, architecture, coatings and industry
FAQ
What is the RAL K5 Gloss Colour Fan?
The RAL K5 Gloss is a professional fan deck containing all 216 RAL CLASSIC colours in a large 5 × 15 cm full-page gloss format.
Which colours are included?
It includes the complete RAL CLASSIC collection of 216 colours, including solid, safety, signal, pearl, luminous and metallic or mica-effect colours.
What is the difference between RAL K5 Gloss and RAL K5 Semi-Matt?
The Gloss version is designed for glossy and high-sheen applications, while the Semi-Matt version is better suited to lower-gloss surfaces.
What information is printed on the back?
Each page includes the four-digit RAL CLASSIC colour code and the colour name in eight languages for international colour communication.
Why are water-based paints used?
Water-based paints reduce VOC emissions during production and offer improved UV resistance and long-term protection against yellowing.
Is the RAL K5 Gloss suitable for final colour control?
It is primarily a colour selection and communication tool. For binding colour matching and formal quality control, official RAL primary standards may be required.