NCS S 2040-B - Bright Blue
NCS S 2040-B (Bright Blue) is an NCS color with a HEX approximation of #1E90FF, RGB 30, 144, 255, and CMYK 88/44/0/0. It has 20% blackness and 40% chromaticness with hue B. Its closest Pantone Solid Coated match is 279 C (Delta E 2.71), and its closest NCS neighbor is S 1540-B (Royal Blue).
About NCS S 2040-B
NCS S 2040-B is part of the Natural Color System, a perceptual color notation system developed in Sweden and widely used across Scandinavia and Northern Europe for architectural paint specifications. The code reads as: S (Standard) · 20% blackness · 40% chromaticness · hue B.
Like every NCS code, S 2040-B is defined by a physical paint swatch in the NCS Color Atlas, not by a digital value. The HEX approximation #1E90FF is the most commonly-published translation, but physical NCS swatches are the only authoritative source. The full NCS Atlas contains roughly 1,950 codes; our reference covers 50 benchmark codes.
Closest Pantone match
The closest Pantone Solid Coated color to NCS S 2040-B is 279 C (#418FDE), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 2.71. This is a very close match suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Closest NCS neighbors
These NCS codes are perceptually closest to S 2040-B, sorted by Delta E 2000. Codes within the same family differ by Delta E 2-8 typically - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where NCS S 2040-B is used
NCS S 2040-B is typically specified in architectural facades, maritime and coastal applications, industrial machinery, and wayfinding systems. Its blue tone makes it appropriate wherever a technical, industrial, or nature-referencing palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 2040-B for a production run, verify the color against a physical NCS color fan under the actual lighting conditions and finish (matte, semi-gloss, gloss) that will be used - the same code looks meaningfully different across finishes.
Frequently asked questions
What is NCS S 2040-B in HEX?
NCS S 2040-B (Bright Blue) has a HEX approximation of #1E90FF. This is the widely-published mid-range value - NCS is a perceptual color notation system, not a digital one, so any HEX representation is a translation rather than a definition. Different published sources disagree by 2-5% for the same NCS code; #1E90FF is close to every commonly-cited reference.
What does NCS S 2040-B mean?
The code breaks down as: S (Standard), 20% blackness, 40% chromaticness, hue B. Blackness measures how much black the color contains relative to pure white (0%) and pure black (100%). Chromaticness measures how saturated the color is relative to a neutral gray at the same blackness. Hue B specifies the position on the NCS perceptual color wheel - with Y for yellow, R for red, B for blue, G for green, or N for neutral.
What Pantone color is closest to NCS S 2040-B?
The closest Pantone Solid Coated match to NCS S 2040-B is 279 C (#418FDE), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 2.71. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
What NCS color is closest to NCS S 2040-B?
The closest NCS neighbors to S 2040-B are S 1540-B (Royal Blue, Delta E 14.9), S 2050-R60B (Medium Purple, Delta E 22.8), S 4000-N (Slate Grey, Delta E 26.4). Codes within the same family typically differ by Delta E 2-8 - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where is NCS S 2040-B commonly used?
NCS S 2040-B is typically used in architectural facades, maritime and coastal applications, industrial machinery, and wayfinding systems. Its blue tone makes it appropriate wherever a technical, industrial, or nature-referencing palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 2040-B for a production run, verify against a physical NCS color fan - the same code looks meaningfully different in different finishes.