Chart / 1000 series / RAL 1016 Sulfur yellow
RAL 1016 Sulfur yellow
A very light, strong yellow on screen. First published on this chart 25 January 2012.
This swatch is a screen approximation of the colour. Check a physical RAL fan deck or a painted sample of the actual product before you order or match anything.
| Hex (sRGB) | #F1DD38 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 241, 221, 56 |
| HSL | 54°, 87%, 58% |
| CMYK (naive) | 0, 8, 77, 5 |
| CIE Lab (from sRGB) | 87.3, -9.8, 77 |
| Relative luminance | 70.7% |
| Text contrast | white text 1.4:1, black text 15.1:1 |
Values are derived from the approximate hex above. CMYK is a simple conversion, not a print recipe: printers convert through their own profiles. Luminance is a screen figure, not a measured light reflectance value (LRV) from a paint data sheet.
How RAL 1016 reads
Sharp, light and greenish, sulfur yellow is much paler and cooler than RAL 1003 signal yellow. It has a clean, slightly acidic brightness that jumps out against grey, dark blue or black.
Where it turns up
It is associated with ambulances in many European countries and also appears on safety marking, machinery and signage. Pale yellows need a white base to cover well, so prime white and build up thin coats rather than one heavy one.
Ordering RAL 1016 in paint or powder
Quote the number, not just the name: say "RAL Classic 1016" and add the gloss level, the product type (wall paint, metal paint, powder, aerosol) and the surface. The same number mixed by two makers, or in two gloss levels, can look slightly different, so keep a whole job in one batch and look at a sample in daylight first. The paint counter guide covers the questions to ask.