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NCS® to RAL® * convert

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Convert from NCS® to RAL®

Quick Explanation

If you want to transfer colours from the Scandinavian NCS® system into industrial coatings or architectural paints, you can convert from NCS to RAL®. The NCS (Natural Color System) is based on human colour perception, whereas RAL is derived from real pigment and material standards. This conversion finds the RAL shade that most closely matches your NCS colour both visually and metrically.

The conversion from NCS to RAL is particularly useful for architects, interior designers and product developers who need consistent colours across materials such as walls, metals or furniture surfaces. qConv helps you find the best RAL code for your NCS value and analyse any deviations precisely.

Because NCS relies on perceived colour and RAL on physical pigment data, small differences may occur. Still, the conversion from NCS to RAL provides a reliable approximation for colour planning, material coordination and industrial design.

How does it work?

During the conversion from NCS to RAL, NCS values (e.g. S 2050-Y90R) are translated into LAB coordinates and then compared with RAL reference data. qConv uses precise ΔE calculations to determine the closest matching RAL colour.

The result is a RAL code such as RAL 3012 Beige Red or RAL 1001 Beige. qConv also displays the numerical ΔE difference and suggests alternative tones if the deviation is visible.

This colour conversion from NCS to RAL is ideal for aligning architectural designs, material suppliers and construction teams, ensuring that colour concepts are accurately realised across surfaces and textures.

Example & Application

Example: The NCS colour S 2050-Y90R corresponds approximately to RAL 3012 Beige Red. qConv instantly shows this conversion from NCS to RAL, including the ΔE difference and suggested matching RAL tones.

The conversion from NCS to RAL is especially valuable when maintaining colour harmony between digital design and production. With qConv you can analyse NCS colours, convert them into RAL values and export them as palettes for further use.

Tip: Use the NCS-RAL conversion early in your planning to ensure colour consistency in interiors, facades and furniture design. qConv helps you achieve visually coherent and technically accurate results.

* Note:

qConv.com searches for the next matching color from the selected color palette. In most cases, there will be minimal or apparent color differences because there is not an exact match for every color.

NCS® Color System (Natural Color System)

Short Description

The NCS® – Natural Color System – is a scientifically based color model that describes how humans perceive color. Unlike technical models such as RGB or CMYK, NCS is built on visual perception and defines colors based on their similarity to six elementary colors: white, black, yellow, red, blue, and green.

Each NCS color is identified by a systematic code that represents its visual characteristics, for example NCS S 1080-Y70R. The system provides a logical structure that allows designers, architects, and manufacturers to communicate color accurately across industries. Since April 2022, an additional 100 new colors have been added, bringing the total to 2,050 shades in the current NCS collection.

Usage

The NCS® color system is widely used in architecture, product design, and industrial manufacturing. It helps professionals create harmonies based on human color perception and enables accurate matching between digital design, paint, and materials. NCS colors are used by major paint manufacturers, design firms, and universities worldwide.

The system is also valuable for color psychology and environmental design, as it allows designers to work with perception-based contrasts and mood settings rather than purely technical color codes.

Tips for Designers & Architects

When working with NCS, focus on the relationship between hue, chromaticness, and blackness. Colors closer to white or black are ideal for subtle backgrounds, while saturated hues create striking focal points. NCS values can be easily converted to digital formats such as RGB, HEX, or CMYK using tools like qConv.

With qConv, you can search all 2,050 NCS® tones, including the 2022 additions. Simply enter “2022” in the search field to discover the newest colors.

RAL® Color System

Short Description

The RAL® color system is an internationally recognized standard for defining and communicating colors. Originating in Germany in 1927, RAL established a consistent catalog that assigns each color a unique four-digit number, such as “RAL 3020 Traffic Red.”

The classic RAL® palette includes 213 standardized colors in the RAL Classic collection. Each tone is precisely defined to ensure color consistency across materials, manufacturers, and applications. Beyond RAL Classic, there are also the RAL Design System Plus and RAL Effect lines, offering more than 2,500 colors for architecture, product design, and industrial coatings.

Usage

RAL® is widely used in architecture, construction, automotive, and industrial manufacturing to define exact color specifications for paints, coatings, and materials. It is the standard reference for designers, engineers, and production companies that require accurate and repeatable color matching worldwide.

Designers often use RAL colors when creating brand elements, interiors, and exterior coatings. The universal numbering system ensures that a chosen RAL color looks the same across all production environments.

Tips for Designers & Engineers

When selecting RAL colors, consider the surface finish — glossy, matte, or textured coatings can affect perception. Always compare samples under realistic lighting conditions. The RAL Design System Plus offers finer gradations for designers who need nuanced hues for product and interior applications.

With qConv, you can convert RAL® colors to HEX, RGB, CMYK, Pantone® or HKS® formats, making it easy to align digital and physical color specifications within your design process.

Popular conversions

RGB to HEX

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RGB to CMYK

convert from RGB red green blue to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black

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RGB to RAL®

convert from RGB red green blue to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)

RGB to HKS®

convert from RGB red green blue to HKS®-number (HKS 00)

RGB to PANTONE®

convert from RGB red green blue to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)

RGB to Sherwin Williams®

convert from RGB red green blue to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)

RGB to NCS®

convert from RGB red green blue to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)

nsc-logo

RGBA to HEX

convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to #RRGGBB

RGBA to CMYK

convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black

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RGBA to RAL®

convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)

RGBA to HKS®

convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to HKS®-number (HKS 00)

RGBA to PANTONE®

convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)

RGBA to Sherwin Williams®

convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)

RGBA to NCS®

convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)

nsc-logo

CMYK to HEX

convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to #RRGGBB

CMYK to RGB

convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to RGB red green blue

CMYK to RGBA

convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to RGBA red green blue transparency

CMYK to RAL®

convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)

CMYK to HKS®

convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to HKS®-number (HKS 00)

CMYK to PANTONE®

convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)

CMYK to Sherwin Williams®

convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)

CMYK to NCS®

convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)

nsc-logo

HEX to RGB

convert from #RRGGBB to RGB red green blue

HEX to RGBA

convert from #RRGGBB to RGBA red green blue transparency

HEX to CMYK

convert from #RRGGBB to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black

Icons

HEX to RAL®

convert from #RRGGBB to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)

HEX to HKS®

convert from #RRGGBB to HKS®-number (HKS 00)

HEX to PANTONE®

convert from #RRGGBB to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)

HEX to Sherwin Williams®

convert from #RRGGBB to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)

HEX to NCS®

convert from #RRGGBB to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)

nsc-logo

RAL® to RGB

convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to RGB red green blue

RAL® to RGBA

convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to RGBA red green blue transparency

RAL® to CMYK

convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black

Icons

RAL® to HEX

convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to #RRGGBB

RAL® to HKS®

convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)

RAL® to PANTONE®

convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)

RAL® to Sherwin Williams®

convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)

RAL® to NCS®

convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)

nsc-logo

HKS® to RGB

convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to RGB red green blue

HKS® to RGBA

convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to RGBA red green blue transparency

HKS® to CMYK

convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black

Icons

HKS® to HEX

convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to #RRGGBB

HKS® to RAL®

convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)

HKS® to PANTONE®

convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)

HKS® to Sherwin Williams®

convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)

HKS® to NCS®

convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)

nsc-logo

PANTONE® to RGB

convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to RGB red green blue

PANTONE® to RGBA

convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to RGBA red green blue transparency

PANTONE® to CMYK

convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black

Icons

PANTONE® to HEX

convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to #RRGGBB

PANTONE® to RAL®

convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)

PANTONE® to HKS®

convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)

PANTONE® to Sherwin Williams®

convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)

PANTONE® to NCS®

convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)

nsc-logo

Sherwin Williams® to RGB

convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to RGB red green blue

Sherwin Williams® to RGBA

convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to RGBA red green blue transparency

Sherwin Williams® to CMYK

convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black

Icons

Sherwin Williams® to HEX

convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to #RRGGBB

Sherwin Williams® to RAL®

convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)

Sherwin Williams® to HKS®

convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)

Sherwin Williams® to PANTONE®

convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)

Sherwin Williams® to NCS®

convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)

nsc-logo

NCS® to RGB

convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to RGB red green blue

NCS® to RGBA

convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to RGBA red green blue transparency

NCS® to CMYK

convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black

Icons

NCS® to HEX

convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to #RRGGBB

NCS® to RAL®

convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)

NCS® to HKS®

convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)

NCS® to PANTONE®

convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)

NCS® to Sherwin Williams®

convert from NCS-number (S0000-X00X) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)

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