FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the Natural Colour System. If your question is not listed here please e-mail it to us.

Do you supply products free of charge to specifiers?

No. Some paint manufacturers supply colour sheet and fanbooks free of charge to promote their paints. Ours are the official Natural Colour System products. NCS produces colour standards for other companies to work to.

How are the NCS Sheets produced?

By coating special paper with a dense layer of cellulose lacquer which has been accurately matched and tested for metamerism.

How long will NCS products last?

If they are kept in good condition (away from strong light, heat or damp) they will retain their accuracy for colour selection for 10 years and more. Standards used for colour matching in laboratories should be renewed after 2 years.

What is NCS Edition 2?

Go to NCS Edition 2

Where can I get NCS colours in paint?

Go to NCS for Paint & Powder

Is the NCS notation a recipe for paint tinting?

No. NCS describes how we see colour. It doesn't refer to pigments.

Which countries use NCS?

NCS Colour AB is based in Sweden where it is the National Standard. It is also the National Standard in Norway, Spain and South Africa. NCS Colour AB has offices in Stockholm and GuangZhou, P.R. China. There are NCS distributors in all European countries, in Australia, South Africa, USA, Russia, and many other countries. The NCS System is used worldwide by many manufacturing companies, particularly coatings, laminates and flooring.

Go to NCS Distributors

Can I use NCS on my computer?

Go to NCS Navigator

Can you give me the NCS equivalent for a BS or RAL colour?

We can supply an individual cross reference usually on the same day by e-mail.

Go to NCS Cross References

Can you give me the NCS equivalent for a Pantone colour?

We can supply an individual cross reference usually on the same day by e-mail.

Go to NCS Cross References

Is NCS the same as Colour Dimensions - the same system?

Colour Dimensions was a brand name ICI Paints (Dulux) used for NCS. An example of a colour notation would be: 1080-Y10R. ICI Paints (Dulux Trade and Armstead) have all 1950 NCS colours on their mixing systems.

What is Colour Palette?

ICI Paints (Dulux's) own paint mixing system. The notations are different from NCS notations.


Please e-mail with questions or comments.


NCS – Natural Colour System®© property of NCS Colour AB, Stockholm 2019. References to NCS®© are used with permission from NCS Colour AB.