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You encounter it frequently on the internet. Many websites offer NCS colors as RGB images so you can get an idea of the color. In the great eagerness of paint suppliers and other color providers, things are done haphazardly. You often see NCS colors that start with 00 followed by the rest of the code.
The NCS system was developed from the 1930s to 1980. In 1979, the first NCS atlas was published with a selection of 1,412 colors. In 1984, another 118 colors were added. This was called the first edition.
The color notation of these colors starts without S and the very light colors (pastel colors) start with 00 (colors without black) followed by the saturation component and then the hue.
In 1995, the system had to be revised to comply with EU environmental requirements regarding lead-containing pigments. Many colors changed because other pigments had to be used.
When launching the second edition, the first edition colors were therefore completely discontinued. Colors of the second edition always start with S, from "standard NCS color."
It is therefore remarkable that these colors, which are no longer supported by NCS, still appear on websites.
But what about that 00. How does that work?
During the revision, the principle was adopted that a color ALWAYS has a black component, a white component, and chromaticness. By starting a color notation with 00, it indicates that there is no black in the color.
NCS colors of the second edition therefore always have a black component. That's why, for example, the color 0020-Y30R or 0050-B30G doesn't exist.
The unfortunate thing for you as a color specifier is that paint machines still have all first edition colors in the system.
So pay attention: a 1010-Y20R is a different color than an S 1010-Y20R!
NCS colors that start with 00 (without S-prefix) don't exist in the current standard. These are remnants of the first edition that was discontinued in 1995 due to EU regulations on lead-containing pigments.
When specifying NCS colors, always pay attention to:
Want to know why colors like 5050-B90G and 2090-Y90R don't exist? Contact SNKI for explanation about the logic behind NCS color notation.
Nederlands Kleur Instituut info@kleurinstituut.nl +31 (75) 6169977
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