This standardized color system, published in various formats including physical books and digital software, provides a precise way to identify and communicate colors using a three-dimensional system based on hue, value (lightness), and chroma (saturation). A notation such as 5R 4/14 designates a specific, reproducible color: a medium red with moderate lightness and strong saturation.
Offering a scientifically organized color space, it eliminates the subjectivity of color descriptions, enabling accurate color matching and communication across industries like art, design, science, and manufacturing. Its development in the early 20th century revolutionized color specification, providing a universal language for color that continues to be relevant today. The system’s influence is widespread, from specifying paint colors to classifying soil types.
