Standard Practice for Specifying Color by the Natural Colour System (NCS)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The Natural Colour System is a color notation system that builds on how a human being sees color. An NCS notation represents a specific color percept and describes the color as perceived; it is not dependent on limitations caused by pigments, light rays or nerve signals that have given rise to this perception. The NCS system is used internationally in such fields as architecture, corporate identity, cosmetics, education, fashion and textile forecasting and production, interior design and product design. The Natural Colour System describes colors exactly as they are seen. Any of the millions of colors that exist can be defined within the NCS system and given a precise notation. When the NCS system is known, it is possible to judge the attributes of a color by its NCS notation; for example, how much blackness, how much chromaticness, and what hue? This helps to communicate and check specifications and to identify colors. Some examples of the use of NCS are: (1) Architects and designers use the NCS color samples to select colors for all kind of products and materials; (2) They also use the NCS notation to analyze the colors in use in a particular area and to document their specifications; (3) Companies use the NCS color samples as the production standards for their products; (4) Paint manufacturers and other industries use the NCS notation and the NCS color samples to visualize the color of their products to customers, and (5) Companies use the NCS samples as high quality color standards in corporate identity programs and manuals.
SCOPE
1.1 The Natural Colour System (NCS) (see 1.7) provides a color notation system that can be used to communicate color. This practice introduces the Natural Colour System, its terminology, and conversion to and from CIE tristimulus values.  
1.2 The system described in this standard includes color percepts that appear to belong to the surface of a material, provided the surface is not perceived to be fluorescent or to exhibit directional color effects.  
1.3 The system does not include colors that appear to belong to translucent or luminescent objects (so-called volume colors and luminous colors), nor does it include other visual properties of the surface layer, such as gloss and texture. An NCS notation does not describe the physical or chemical properties of an object.  
1.4 This practice also specifies the conditions for visual or instrumental determination of the NCS notation of a color sample, defines the relationships between psychometrically determined NCS notations and the corresponding CIE color coordinates which are to be used in this context.  
1.5 For the accuracy requirements associated with NCS standards and NCS color samples, the user is referred to Swedish Standard SS 19104. The colored illustrations in this standard shall not be used as standard color samples in any way. Color illustrations that are shown on screen or in printouts may be significantly different than the original NCS color samples with the same NCS Notation due to limited color reproduction capabilities in screens and printers.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 Acknowledgement—NCS, Natural Colour System is a trademark of the NCS Colour AB Stockholm, Sweden and is protected by copyright (www.ncscolour.com). All rights reserved. Original NCS color samples are only available form NCS Colour AB or any authorized NCS distributor. Commercial use of the NCS System requires a license from NCS Colour AB.  
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internation...

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30-Sep-2022
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Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2970 − 22
Standard Practice for
1
Specifying Color by the Natural Colour System (NCS)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2970; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope served. Original NCS color samples are only available form
NCS Colour AB or any authorized NCS distributor. Commer-
1.1 The Natural Colour System (NCS) (see 1.7) provides a
cial use of the NCS System requires a license from NCS Colour
color notation system that can be used to communicate color.
AB.
This practice introduces the Natural Colour System, its
terminology, and conversion to and from CIE tristimulus 1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
values. safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.2 The system described in this standard includes color
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
percepts that appear to belong to the surface of a material,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
provided the surface is not perceived to be fluorescent or to
1.9 This international standard was developed in accor-
exhibit directional color effects.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.3 Thesystemdoesnotincludecolorsthatappeartobelong
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
to translucent or luminescent objects (so-called volume colors
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
and luminous colors), nor does it include other visual proper-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
ties of the surface layer, such as gloss and texture. An NCS
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
notation does not describe the physical or chemical properties
of an object.
2. Referenced Documents
1.4 This practice also specifies the conditions for visual or
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
instrumental determination of the NCS notation of a color
E284 Terminology of Appearance
sample, defines the relationships between psychometrically
E308 PracticeforComputingtheColorsofObjectsbyUsing
determined NCS notations and the corresponding CIE color
the CIE System
coordinates which are to be used in this context.
E1164 PracticeforObtainingSpectrometricDataforObject-
1.5 For the accuracy requirements associated with NCS
Color Evaluation
standards and NCS color samples, the user is referred to
3
2.2 Swedish Standards:
Swedish Standard SS 19104. The colored illustrations in this
SS 19100 Colour Notation system
standard shall not be used as standard color samples in any
SS 19102 NCS Colour Atlas
way.Colorillustrationsthatareshownonscreenorinprintouts
SS 19104 NCS colour samples — Observation and measure-
may be significantly different than the original NCS color
ment conditions and tolerances
samples with the same NCS Notation due to limited color
4
2.3 Other Documents:
reproduction capabilities in screens and printers.
CIE No. 15 Colorimetry
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
2.4 ASTM Adjuncts:
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
5
Spreadsheet for NCS Notations and CIE Coordinates
standard.
1.7 Acknowledgement—NCS, Natural Colour System is a
trademark of the NCS Colour AB Stockholm, Sweden and is
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
protected by copyright (www.ncscolour.com). All rights re-
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
1 3
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and Available from Swedish Institute for Standards, Box 45443, SE-104 31
Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.07 on Color Order Stockholm, Sweden, www.sis.se.
4
Systems. Available from U.S. National Committee of the CIE (International Commission
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2022. Published November 2022. Originally on Illumination) or CIE Webshop http://www.techstreet.com/cie.
5
approved in 2014. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as E2970 – 15. DOI: Available from ASTM International Headquarters. Order Adjunct No.
10.1520/E2970-22. ADJE2970S-EA. Original adjunct produced in 2014.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2970 − 15 E2970 − 22
Standard Practice for
1
Specifying Color by the Natural Colour System (NCS)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2970; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 The Natural Colour System (NCS) (see 1.7) provides a color notation system that can be used to communicate color. This
practice introduces the Natural Colour System, its terminology, and conversion to and from CIE tristimulus values.
1.2 The system described in this standard includes color percepts that appear to belong to the surface of a material, provided the
surface is not perceived to be fluorescent or to exhibit directional color effects.
1.3 The system does not include colors that appear to belong to translucent or luminescent objects (so-called volume colors and
luminous colors), nor does it include other visual properties of the surface layer, such as gloss and texture. An NCS notation does
not describe the physical or chemical properties of an object.
1.4 This practice also specifies the conditions for visual or instrumental determination of the NCS notation of a color sample,
defines the relationships between psychometrically determined NCS notations and the corresponding CIE color coordinates which
are to be used in this context.
1.5 For the accuracy requirements associated with NCS standards and NCS color samples, the user is referred to Swedish Standard
SS 19104. The colored illustrations in this standard shall not be used as standard color samples in any way. Color illustrations that
are shown on screen or in printouts may be significantly different than the original NCS color samples with the same NCS Notation
due to limited color reproduction capabilities in screens and printers.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.7 Acknowledgement—NCS, Natural Colour System is a trademark of the NCS Colour AB Stockholm, Sweden and is protected
by copyright (www.ncscolour.com). All rights reserved. Original NCS color samples are only available form NCS Colour AB or
any authorized NCS distributor. Commercial use of the NCS System requires a license from NCS Colour AB.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.07 on Color Order
Systems.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2015Oct. 1, 2022. Published December 2015November 2022. Originally approved in 2014. Last previous edition approved in 20142015
as E2970 – 14.15. DOI: 10.1520/E2970-15.10.1520/E2970-22.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2970 − 22
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E284 Terminology of Appearance
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System
E1164 Practice for Obtaining Spectrometric Data for Object-Color Evaluation
3
2.2 Swedish Standards:
SS 19100 Colour Notation system
SS 19102:200419102 NCS Colour Atlas
SS 19104 NCS colour samples — Observation and measurement conditions and tolerances
4
2.3 Other Documents:
CIE 15:2004No. 15 Colorimetry
2.4 ASTM Adjuncts:
5
Spreadsheet for NCS Notations and CIE Coordinates
3. Terminology
3.1 Terms and definitions in Terminology E284 are applicable to this practice.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 elementary color, n—one of the six color percepts each of which can be described only by reference to itself.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—
The elementary colors, which are designated with uppercase lette
...

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