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Our spontaneous impression of objects and environments is influenced by their gloss level. The perception of colour, the impression of aesthetics and even the feeling of quality are influenced. Surface properties, such as damage resistance and the difficulty or easiness to be cleaned, often depend on how glossy or matt the surface is. Professionals such as architects, designers and product developers are conscious of such relationships between gloss and surface properties. Therefore we have now further improved and created a special tool which gives clear definitions and specifications of the gloss itself and in combination with colour. The name of the new tool is NCS Gloss Scale.  

The standpoint of NCS is to describe the observer’s visual impressions. Based on this, the new gloss scale is a tool that shows the different levels of gloss as a gradual visual movement and can be used as reference. The gloss samples can be fanned out and can easily be placed against various surfaces that the user works with. NCS Gloss Scale includes gloss samples in four different colours: white, light grey, mid grey and black. For each colour seven gloss levels are shown which are visually perceived as forming equal gloss steps or a natural gloss flow from the very matt to the very glossy. By its extended gloss register it will allow more nuanced and more effective creations of various effects. The scale also includes the internationally standardised measurement values of gloss as well as references to several existing standards. This also makes it suitable to visually check that the requirements for the gloss level of a surface are met. As a whole, NCS Gloss Scale a valuable tool for professional users who design objects and environments.  

 

THE FRENCH RAILWAY IS STREAMLINING WITH NCS
France has the most extensive railway system in Western Europe. SNCF, the company that operates the railway, recently implemented NCS in their visual identity management concerning the trains. A comprehensive analysis was carried out on their current colours. Overlapping colours were removed and primary colour standards were set for the most common SNCF colours. To coordinate and control their hundreds of global suppliers to the right colour, secondary colour standards (duplicates of the primary colour standards) were produced. With an effective colour management, SNCF saves time and money while securing their colour communication.

 

MEET US AT THE FAIRS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT GLOSS
With the launch of our new NCS Gloss Scale we will hold a presentation about the coming trends in products and environments and what shape and gloss they will be taking. One of the talks will be held on the main stage, “Entretorget”, during the Stockholm Furniture Fair on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 1 p.m. (you can also find us in booth AG:05). But, first off is imm cologne, the international furniture fair in Germany that will take place in January 16-22, next year. We have worked together with the design duo Doshi Levien in the exhibition Das Haus - Interiors on Stage, where we are one of the main sponsors. They have used NCS and our colour design tools in the development of the colour concept of the exhibition. At imm cologne, find us in Pure Village: C025, Pure Village Hall 03.2 and you can listen to our talk about gloss there as well. Welcome!

COLOUR TREND RESOURCES FOR 2012
The recently launched NCS Insight 2012 is a trend colour selection with the 30 most important colours for the coming year. It has been developed in cooperation with Global Color Research, a world leading trend company, also behind the trend publications Mix Trends and Mix magazine (new issues out now). Discover new trends in design and architecture with lots of inspiring images in Mix magazine. Mix Trends is a book that gives you information on colour trends two years ahead of season. The latest issue focuses on colour palettes for autumn/winter 2013/14. References to NCS colours are used in all trends, making it easier for you to find and apply them.



EXPERIENCE THE NCS ALBUM
NCS Album is a complete overview of the NCS System. Divided into two parts, the first binder contains the grey colours and the hues from Y to R90B. The second binder stretches from B to G90Y. Both binders are filled with 1950 removable colour samples in A9-format. Use it to choose and compare colours or to show and suggest colour combinations by using the colour samples on drawings, mood boards, specifications, etc. All NCS Colour Samples can be ordered separately as refills. A practical storage box is included that can be equipped with a carrying strap. The tight insert pockets keep the samples in place and a matt-laminated, whiter paper gives you the best background for the colours. You will also find Colour Masks for improved colour assessment and a Similarity page that enhance colour design choices and harmony.

NCS Colour once again teams up with Global Color Research, world leading trend forecasters and the company behind the trend publications Mix magazine and Mix Trends, to compile NCS Insight. Use it for mood boards, refining your collections and presentations. Demonstrate it to your clients or even slip it into your pocket to find trend colours when you are out shopping or in different environments. However you use it, NCS Insight helps you with colour trends. NCS Insight is a trend colour selection with the 30 most important colours for the coming year. Compiled in a pocket size fan deck, all colours can be ordered as separate sheets in different sizes and gloss format. The colours can also be translated into RGB and CMYK online in NCS Navigator. Read more

NCS Colour continues to strengthen its global presence as part of our mission to support professional colour use and knowledge worldwide. On the booming Chinese market a new NCS Colour office has recently been established in Guangzhou. Besides, an ambitious collaboration is introduced with two prominent Chinese universities: Tongji University in Shanghai and Tsinghua University in Beijing.

In Shanghai a high level colour education for students, teachers and professionals has been introduced. A special colour research programme is also planned for the future. The university registers over 50,000 students participating in education on different levels; from certificate courses to PhD programmes and post-doctoral attachments. Our activities have started this month and in December the first 2-day colour course will be open for everyone to join; teachers, students, professionals and industry oriented people. In Bejing the first course "NCS in Colour Design" will take place in December. It will be carried out together with TASCII (Tsinghua Art & Science Colour & Image Institute) which is an independent Colour Support Centre. The course is an open workshop directed to professionals working with colour. It will be oriented towards colour subjects such as the construction of the Natural Colour System, how to work practically with NCS, how to describe and communicate colour, how to use NCS as tool and more.
Read more: DEC 1-2. 2011 BEIJING | DEC 4-5, 2011 SHANGHAI 

DOSHI LEVIEN
Imagine a house in the urban context of Shanghai, Tokyo or an Indian city. The houses seem to be sewn together, different but still closely connected. It doesn't seem to be conscious design, almost as if the design has been authored by the people who live in it. These are the thoughts that inspired Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien, the young designer couple behind the successful London based design studio Doshi Levien, when creating the installation "Das Haus" for the imm cologne 2012 trade fair in Germany. Using the Natural Colour System they have created the entire colour concept for their project. Their teamwork combines Indian and European, male and female and graphic and functional formal quality of design that has caught the attention of many, such as Tefal, Moroso and Cappellini to name a few. 

 

HEIMTEXTIL TREND BOOK 2012/13
The trends for the coming season have been characterised by the far-reaching events over the past few years e.g. the nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima, the banking crisis and mass demonstrations. Colour is now in focus and powerful, fresh tones show an optimistic view of the world. Heimtextil is the largest international trade fair for home and office textiles. Acting as a trend barometer it also launched Heimtextil Trends, a team of seven international design studios formulating the most important tendencies for the coming season. Each year a different design studio, this year bora.herke.palmisano, collects the coming trends in the Trend Book, all colours with NCS Notations. The theme is MONTAGE and it is about mixing existing elements into something new, personal and individual that has not existed before.

 

THINK INSIDE THE BLOCK
NCS Block is a useful tool when working with colour selection, colour analysis and colour identification. All 1950 NCS Original are colours arranged into 'colour areas', sorted by hue or nuance. Nine fan decks are included where each sample can be fanned out to make it easy to try different colour combinations. It can be placed against different surfaces or isolated from other colours around it. The nuance classification is especially popular among those who work with patterns and contrasts. The large sample format 35 x 104 mm makes it a handy pocket-size tool that you can easily carry with you. NCS Block Nuance | NCS Block Hue 
Current campaign: Three Unique Offers.

  

Two identical objects having the same colour but different surface gloss are often experienced as being different. The gloss level can in fact be the deciding factor for the rating of an object's overall aesthetics. For example, when buying furniture or mobile phones, the preferred gloss and the quality experience is important when making the choice. The same gloss level can suit some materials but not others. Those applying the existing knowledge about gloss will also gain competitive advantage.

Being able to manage and understand gloss and its influence is something that NCS Colour sees as a complement to choosing the right colour. In order to be able to select and analyse gloss, practical tools are needed in the form of samples which show how surfaces with various gloss measurement values look like. Therefore, we are currently developing a new gloss scale with the aim to simplify gloss assessment. The new gloss scale is useful both in the specification of gloss levels on new products and materials and gloss assessment on existing surfaces. The gloss scale is a helpful tool to use in the design office, on the field or in the production line. The launch takes place at the end of this year so keep an eye on our website and in upcoming newsletters. Offered already today are colour samples in matt, semi-matt and glossy finish that can be ordered on our website.

COLOUR OF THE YEAR AND COLOUR TRENDS
Color Marketing Group recently presented the colour of the year, NCS S 5030-R40B, a purple hue suitable for offices, homes, youth market and luxury goods, with both a masculine and feminine appeal. Read more about the trends for Autumn-Winter 2012/2013 in Mix magazine, issue 25. The complete trend book Mix Trends is also available with 2013’s tendencies for the spring and summer. The next issue of Mix magazine will be out in December and so will the fan deck NCS Insight 2012 with the 30 most important colours for the coming year, in cooperation with Global Color Research. New this year is a special Trend Colour Card 2012 with 20 selected colours for interior design, available for volume order.

 

DAS HAUS – INTERIORS ON STAGE 2012
For the past two years NCS Colour has worked with the furniture trade fair imm cologne in Germany on its trend forecast. As a leading market place for related industries, imm cologne is held in January each year and primarily focuses on contemporary furniture and interior design. This time the London based design studio Doshi Levien is invited as guests of honour to design the ‘Das Haus – Interiors on Stage’ installation, sponsored by NCS Colour. In the midst of the ‘Pure Village’ hall Doshi Levien will build an installation based on own ideas of a perfect home, using the Natural Colour System and the NCS Colour Tools in the creation, colour communication and specification. | JANUARY 16-22, 2012

 

NEWS FROM BERLIN
The Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Björling paid a visit to the NCS Colour showroom in Berlin before the official opening. Focusing on Swedish companies operating in Berlin, she came to the showroom to gain insight into the creative industries and the importance to become established in Berlin and Germany. The official opening with the Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, as guest of honour was conducted on the 30th of September. In our showroom people enjoyed seminars and workshops about colour and we are happy to recap that the house was filled with people getting familiar with Berlin’s new hub for the creative in Aufbau Haus/Planet Modulor.

  

AUTUMN GLOBAL ACTIVITIES
After events and presentations, such as the Creative Masters Tour Conference in Mauritius, the Brazilian Day of Colour in São Paulo and the International Color Symposium in Korea, NCS Colour’s global tour continues. NCS Colour Academy will travel abroad with specially designed international colour courses. In connection with the design trade fair INDEX 2011 in Dubai, NCS Colour Academy, in cooperation with APID, will hold a seminar on ‘NCS in Interior Colour Design’. The travel continues with the workshops on ‘NCS in Colour Design’ in Kuala Lumpur-Malaysia, Berlin-Germany and Beijing-China. Click the dates to read more. OCT 24, 2011 (Dubai) NOV 23-24, 2011 (Germany) NOV 28-29, 2011 (Malaysia) DEC 1-2, 2011 (China)

With firecrackers and champagne, the opening of our new colour laboratory at the head office in Stockholm was held on August 26th. This means a further increase of NCS Colour Sample accuracy as well as new services, products and higher capacity.

The lab complex consists of four lab sections – reference lab, creative lab, measurement lab and wet lab. This means that colour matching, colour specification and colour measurement can be performed on an even higher level than before, while further improving the working environment for our lab technicians. The lab also enables a more direct cooperation with our clients with consultation on site with our colour specialists. We are excited about this step forward, both from a long-term client perspective but also because our roots within research & development can continue to grow. You are welcome to contact us for use of our lab and our expertise.

 

THE BERLIN GRAND OPENING
As previously reported, an opening of our new showroom in Berlin took place in June – now it’s time for the official grand opening. We are located in the new Aufbau Haus/Planet Modulor centre and the mayor of Berlin will cut the ribbon for the new building on the ceremony. During these two days we will host an Open House with inspiring seminars and activities such as the “Safari” - creative workshops in cooperation with all companies within Planet Modulor. The doors are open between 10a.m.-6p.m. local time. Come and experience NCS with like-minded people.
SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 1, 2011
 

MEET US IN LONDON AT 100% DESIGN
London’s leading design event 100% Design will take place this month, during the London Design Week. Meet us in booth E105 together with Global Colour Research, the company behind the trend publications Mix Magazine and Mix Trends. At 100% Design you will find new material and innovative design, furniture, lighting, textiles and interior. You will also find a variety of interesting exhibitions and events in the city. The event will take place during four days and we will be there all days. Welcome to our booth, get inspired by NCS and take a look at future trends.
SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2011 

 

SPECIAL PRICE ON COLOUR TOOLS – EUR 767 NOW 500
To start off the autumn season we are offering a special price on the colour tools NCS Colour Scan 2.0 and NCS Index 1950 Original. Buy them both for only 500 Euro+VAT (regular price: 767 Euro+VAT). The NCS Colour Scan 2.0 is a handheld colour measurement tool. Place it over any surface and it will show the NCS Notation of the selected colour. It can also isolate colours within a multi-coloured pattern, allowing you to create matching colour palettes and has a memory. NCS Index is a practical fan deck placing 1950 colours in the palm of your hand, a perfect complement to the Colour Scan 2.0. You are welcome here to place your order. CAMPAIGN PERIOD: SEPTEMBER 5–OCTOBER 7, 2011

 

COLOUR - A CORE ASSET TO THE BRAND
According to data from CMG (Color Marketing Group) 85 % of the reasons people buy a product or item can be the colour. Architects, designers, marketers, etc. invest heavily to find the right colours for their items with the goal of creating a unique appearance and strengthen their brand. Vodafone, one of the world’s largest communication companies, is one of many global companies that rely on NCS and the expertise of NCS Colour in their colour communication. With specially designed colour tolerance tools for the most frequent Vodafone colours, they now have a way to coordinate and control their various suppliers worldwide to the right colour.