A method for calibrating a flexible LED lighting element comprising at least first-, second-, and third-color LEDs, and white LEDs, characterised in that the flexible LED lighting element further comprises an LED unit encapsulant that covers the LEDs and contains embedded phosphor particles (Px) of different colors, the method comprising: a) defining a target color on a color map to calibrate; b) selecting initial calibration coefficients associated with the target color, wherein one of the initial calibration coefficients is based on predetermined properties of the LED unit encapsulant and attributes of the white LEDs; c) storing: 1) the initial, or 2) updated calibration coefficients in a non-volatile memory of the light unit; d) controlling the light unit with a controller to drive the LEDs to attempt to emit the target color, producing an attempted color, utilizing one of the initial and updated calibration coefficients; e) measuring the attempted color to determine if it matches the target color within a predefined tolerance; f) if the attempted color matches the target color, then terminating the method; g) if the attempted color does not match the target color, then performing the following; h.1) selecting a first color component; i.1) adapting at least one calibration coefficient associated with the selected first color component by a first color component first amount; j.1) performing (c)- (g) again; h.2) selecting a second color component that is different from the first color component; i.2) adapting at least one calibration coefficient associated with the selected second color component by a second color component first amount; j.2) performing (c)-(g) again; h.3) selecting the first color component; i.3) adapting the at least one calibration coefficient associated with the selected first color component by a first color component second amount that is smaller than the first color component first amount and avoids an overshoot of the target color; j.3) performing (c)-(g) again; h.4) selecting the second color component; i.4) adapting the at least one calibration coefficient associated with the selected second color component by a second color component second amount that is smaller than the second color component first amount and avoids an overshoot of the target color; j.4) performing (c)-(g) again; wherein a path in a color space of the attempted colors forms: a) a converging winding path when only two color components are utilized; and b) a converging spiral when three color components are utilized. a) defining a target color on a color map to calibrate; b) selecting initial calibration coefficients associated with the target color, wherein one of the initial calibration coefficients is based on predetermined properties of the LED unit encapsulant and attributes of the white LEDs; c) storing: 1) the initial, or 2) updated calibration coefficients in a non-volatile memory of the light unit; d) controlling the light unit with a controller to drive the LEDs to attempt to emit the target color, producing an attempted color, utilizing one of the initial and updated calibration coefficients; e) measuring the attempted color to determine if it matches the target color within a predefined tolerance; f) if the attempted color matches the target color, then terminating the method; g) if the attempted color does not match the target color, then performing the following; h.1) selecting a first color component; i.1) adapting at least one calibration coefficient associated with the selected first color component by a first color component first amount; j.1) performing (c)- (g) again; h.2) selecting a second color component that is different from the first color component; i.2) adapting at least one calibration coefficient associated with the selected second color component by a second color component first amount; j.2) performing (c)-(g) again; h.3) selecting the first color component; i.3) adapting the at least one calibration coefficient associated with the selected first color component by a first color component second amount that is smaller than the first color component first amount and avoids an overshoot of the target color; j.3) performing (c)-(g) again; h.4) selecting the second color component; i.4) adapting the at least one calibration coefficient associated with the selected second color component by a second color component second amount that is smaller than the second color component first amount and avoids an overshoot of the target color; j.4) performing (c)-(g) again;