By Mark Kotterink, director of the Dutch Colour Institute (SNKI) · Published 12 March 2026 · Updated 8 October 2026
The Origin of the NCS System
NCS originated in Sweden from research by Hård, Sivik and Tonnquist into colour perception, built on the opponent colour theory of Hering. The first edition appeared in 1976.
The colour model Natural Colour System (NCS) originated from research into human colour perception. Unlike pigment or material systems, NCS describes colour based on perception — how the eye and mind experience colour. This page describes the historical development and founders of NCS.
1. Scientific background: opponent colour theory
The foundation of NCS is the opponent colour theory, developed by the German physiologist Ewald Hering.
This theory states that colour perception operates through six elementary perceptions: white, black, yellow, red, blue and green. NCS uses exactly these six as the basis for its colour model.
2. Development by Hård, Sivik and Tonnquist
In Sweden, researchers — including Anders Hård, Lars Sivik and Gunnar Tonnquist — began in the 1960s with psychophysical research to scientifically underpin perception, colour vision and human colour classification.
The three founders:
This scientific approach ultimately led to a practical colour model usable in design, production and communication.
3. First publication and standardisation
The NCS system appeared in 1976 as the first edition, with the first NCS colour collection.
4. Expansion to 1750 / 1950 / 2050 standard colours
The first standardised set
The edition still in use today
200 colours added, still edition 2
100 colours added, still edition 2
This standardisation makes NCS a reliable and reproducible reference for colour communication.
5. Commercial publication and management by NCS Colour AB
The publication of NCS atlases and samples is handled by the Swedish organisation Skandinaviska Färginstitutet AB.
Organisation structure:
- 1Skandinaviska Färginstitutet ABPublication of NCS atlases and colour samples
- 2NCS Colour ABCommercial management and operation (Stockholm)
Since further development, the management of commercial operations has been transferred to NCS Colour AB, based in Stockholm.
With this structure, NCS is available worldwide and quality and consistency are maintained.
6. Why this history matters for users
NCS Development Timeline
Frequently asked questions
Who developed the NCS system?
Swedish researchers, including Anders Hård, Lars Sivik and Gunnar Tonnquist, who carried out psychophysical research into colour perception and colour classification in the 1960s. They built on the opponent colour theory of the German physiologist Ewald Hering.
What is the opponent colour theory of Hering?
The theory that colour perception operates through six elementary perceptions: white, black, yellow, red, blue and green. NCS uses exactly these six as its basis. The crucial starting point was that colour had to be described as we visually experience it, not through pigment or light mixing models.
When was NCS published?
In 1976, with the first edition. From that moment, NCS could be used worldwide as a standardised language for colour, independent of material, production process or location.
How has the collection grown since then?
The first edition appeared in 1976. The second edition from 1995 contained 1750 standard colours. In 2004, 200 were added to make 1950, and in 2022 another 100: the current standard contains 2050 colours. It is still the second edition. The system itself remained the same with every expansion.
Who manages NCS today?
NCS Colour AB in Stockholm manages the commercial operation. The publication of NCS atlases and samples is handled by the Swedish organisation Skandinaviska Färginstitutet AB. With this structure, NCS is available worldwide and quality and consistency are maintained.
Why is this history relevant for users?
Because it shows that NCS is not an arbitrary or fashion-sensitive system, but one rooted in scientific research into perception. The standard colours are systematically structured and therefore reproducible and universally applicable to paint, textile, plastic, coatings and print.
Mark Kotterink, director of SNKI. Colour expert, lecturer and researcher with 35 years of experience in colour technology and colour application.