40 years as colour

experts
1979-2019

In 1946 the research of a colour system that would make it possible to define
and communicate colour based on visual perception was initiated. About 30
years later, in 1979, NCS – Natural Colour System® was launched and quickly
became the preferred colour notation system for architects, designers and for
the industry globally.

Colour research
In order to make correct colour decisions we need to understand the way we
perceive colour, and especially the colours that we are working with. We
need tools to define colour and not the least, we need a way to communicate
the chosen ones in order to ensure that the produced colour is the same as
the envisioned colour.
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When the NCS System was launched in 1979 it wasn’t a colour collection nor
a formula guide, but a scientifically based colour notation system.

Since NCS is based on how we perceive colour visually, it allows us to describe

the colour on all imaginable surfaces. Making it possible to define, quality
assure and communicate colour in a revolutionising way to ensure a correct
end result.

COMMUNICATE COLOURS CROSS-INDUSTRY

Part of NCS’s uniqueness is that it allows for colour communication between
all parties involved in the colour process. To ensure that the end result is
precisely as it was meant to be.

Today the NCS System is used by architects, designers, material

manufacturers and retailers globally to communicate colour – it is a universal
standard for colour communication.

40 years of NCS Production History

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Following the NCS System launch in 1979 with the iconic NCS Atlas, NCS
quickly became the preferred colour reference for architects, designers and
for the industry globally. On the journey to the present day several other
products have evolved, such as the top seller NCS Index 1950, alongside other
innovative solutions like the cloud-based colour management platform CAPQ.
Constantly evolving the NCS offer while research into colour perception and
colour communication keeps evolving.

NCS HISTORY
Dating all the way back to the seventeenth century (1611), the first known
colour space, the Forsius Globe, was published in “Physica” by Aron Sigfrid
Forsius. The NCS Colour Space is considered to be inspired by the Forsius
Globe.

In the 1960s, Dr. A. Hård, Dr. L. Sivik and Dr. G. Tonnquist initiated research in
order to finally achieve this perfect visual colour communication system. In
1979, the NCS System was launched as a Swedish national colour standard
(SIS).

The NCS System was then illustrated in the NCS Atlas with a standard
selection of 1 412 colours.

As research continued, the choice of standardised colours has been revised

and has expanded.

In 1984, an additional 118 colour were added. One decade later, in 1995, the
second edition of the standardised NCS colours was launched with a total of 1
750 colours. A new world-leading colour accuracy and consistency that is still
unique today. The second edition was also based on environmentally
approved pigments in accordance with EU-regulations.

Today the NCS Standard Collection comprises 1 950 NCS Standard colours.

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Milestones
Illustrated below is the most important milestones on the journey to support
in the work with colour!

1946 1979 2019

The research for an NCS - Natural Colour 40th anniversary

Colour Notation System® was of the NCS System
System was initiated launched

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Revolutionising future colour

communication

With the NCS System as its core, NCS Colour continues to develop innovative
colour solutions and evolve within colour management, launching both
physical and digital solutions. The NCS System is currently the national colour
standard in several countries and international presence in over 80 countries
world-wide.

NCS – AN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNISED COLOUR STANDARD

The same colour must be possible to produce on different materials

and products from different manufacturers. The function of the
exact colour is very important. This can be everything from the
colour of emergency exit signs, colour marking of needles with in the
healthcare segment to the colour of our Swedish flag. What all of
these examples have in common is that the colours must be the
same regardless of manufacturer in order for people to recognise
them. This is made possible by national and internationa l standards
that authorities and industries mutually agree on, and which
describe the colours in a precise and unambiguous way. (SIS, ISO,
CEN and CIE are some of the most important standardisation
organisations).

NCS is a standardised colour communication system with its colour

notations and accurate colour samples that provide the industry
with the tools needed in order to always achieve the right colour on
significant products.

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The NCS System and its colour samples are standardised in Sweden
and several in several other countries (see list below). Furthermore,
the NCS Notations are used in countless standards and instructions
for accurate colour specification.

Swedish standard for NCS:

NCS Colour Atlas; SS 19102:2004
Colour notation system; SS 19100
NCS Colour Samples (assessment and measurement conditions and
tolerances); SS 19104

NCS is also a national Colour standard i following countries:

Norway; NS-SS 19102:2004
Spain; UNE 48103:2014
South Africa; SANS 1091:2012
USA; ASTM STM E2970 – 15

Contact us for further information info@ncscolour.com

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