Facts about colours

Colour systems

Taken into account a wide array of colours a man's eye is capable of recognizing and the need for colour understanding, different solutions have become known during the centuries which have offered useful solutions. Several efforts for arrangement, naming and labelling of colours (or the so called colour systems and colour collections) have been taking shape. Aristotle is believed to be the beginner of these efforts, while later on this became a challenge also for Leonardo da Vinci, Sigfrid Forsius, Sir Isaac Newton and other renowned scientists.

The most common way of structuring the field of colour systems is into the following two groups: colour systems as systematic arrangement of colours and non-systematic colour collections. 

In case of systematic colours arrangement a colour in the system is represented precisely, clearly and internationally applicable. The requirements for a good systematic system are among other elements the following:

  • Clear arrangement and labelling of colours,
  • Simplicity of use,
  • Precise definition of colours with colour values,
  • Definition of validity (source of light) etc.
The described systems can be based on different theories:

  • Systems with visually equal intervals (e.g. Munsell, NCS, OSA, Chroma Cosmos etc.),
  • Systems based on tinting rules and on characteristics of dyes and pigments (e.g. Ostwald, Pantone),
  • Systems based on CIE rules (CIE colour system, DIN 6164, RAL Design etc.)

Non-systematic systems involve a free arrangement of colour shades. A collection is usually not built on selected or defined arrangement rules. Instead, they are used as a colloquial language among interested parties and they have high useful value for requirements of selected field. 

Some of the well known collections of colour patterns are for example:

  • Colour charts of fashionable, trendy colours (frequent changes, updates),
  • Colour charts (internal or manufacturer’s),
  • Catalogues by manufacturers of dyes or pigments.
For colour systems, which represent colours with real samples, the major problem is the preparation of samples and their reproduction (new pigments, ecological requirements). For this reason the number of colours that are assembled in the so called atlases or colour charts is relatively small in comparison with the multitude of possible colours. At the same time the number of collected colours is sufficient for ensuring variegated choice of shades.
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