NCS S 4050-R - Dark Red
NCS S 4050-R (Dark Red) is an NCS color with a HEX approximation of #8B0000, RGB 139, 0, 0, and CMYK 0/100/100/45. It has 40% blackness and 50% chromaticness with hue R. Its closest Pantone Solid Coated match is 484 C (Delta E 7.67), and its closest NCS neighbor is S 6005-Y50R (Brown).
About NCS S 4050-R
NCS S 4050-R 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) · 40% blackness · 50% chromaticness · hue R.
Like every NCS code, S 4050-R is defined by a physical paint swatch in the NCS Color Atlas, not by a digital value. The HEX approximation #8B0000 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 4050-R is 484 C (#9A3324), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 7.67. The colors are noticeably different - specify NCS and Pantone separately rather than substituting.
Closest NCS neighbors
These NCS codes are perceptually closest to S 4050-R, sorted by Delta E 2000. Codes within the same family differ by Delta E 2-8 typically - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where NCS S 4050-R is used
NCS S 4050-R is typically specified in Nordic falu-red buildings, fire equipment, emergency signage, and high-visibility elements. Its red tone makes it appropriate wherever a high-visibility, safety-critical, or attention-catching palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 4050-R 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 4050-R in HEX?
NCS S 4050-R (Dark Red) has a HEX approximation of #8B0000. 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; #8B0000 is close to every commonly-cited reference.
What does NCS S 4050-R mean?
The code breaks down as: S (Standard), 40% blackness, 50% chromaticness, hue R. 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 R 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 4050-R?
The closest Pantone Solid Coated match to NCS S 4050-R is 484 C (#9A3324), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 7.67. These are noticeably different colors - for accurate brand work, specify NCS and Pantone separately rather than substituting.
What NCS color is closest to NCS S 4050-R?
The closest NCS neighbors to S 4050-R are S 6005-Y50R (Brown, Delta E 14.4), S 4010-Y90R (Sienna, Delta E 15.9), S 2050-R30B (Deep Rose, Delta E 18.8). Codes within the same family typically differ by Delta E 2-8 - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where is NCS S 4050-R commonly used?
NCS S 4050-R is typically used in Nordic falu-red buildings, fire equipment, emergency signage, and high-visibility elements. Its red tone makes it appropriate wherever a high-visibility, safety-critical, or attention-catching palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 4050-R for a production run, verify against a physical NCS color fan - the same code looks meaningfully different in different finishes.