NCS S 5040-R80B - Midnight Blue
NCS S 5040-R80B (Midnight Blue) is an NCS color with a HEX approximation of #191970, RGB 25, 25, 112, and CMYK 78/78/0/56. It has 50% blackness and 40% chromaticness with hue R80B. Its closest Pantone Solid Coated match is 2748 C (Delta E 1.79), and its closest NCS neighbor is S 4055-R95B (Ultramarine).
About NCS S 5040-R80B
NCS S 5040-R80B 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) · 50% blackness · 40% chromaticness · hue R80B.
Like every NCS code, S 5040-R80B is defined by a physical paint swatch in the NCS Color Atlas, not by a digital value. The HEX approximation #191970 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 5040-R80B is 2748 C (#001871), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.79. This is a very close match suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Closest NCS neighbors
These NCS codes are perceptually closest to S 5040-R80B, sorted by Delta E 2000. Codes within the same family differ by Delta E 2-8 typically - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where NCS S 5040-R80B is used
NCS S 5040-R80B 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 5040-R80B 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 5040-R80B in HEX?
NCS S 5040-R80B (Midnight Blue) has a HEX approximation of #191970. 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; #191970 is close to every commonly-cited reference.
What does NCS S 5040-R80B mean?
The code breaks down as: S (Standard), 50% blackness, 40% chromaticness, hue R80B. 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 R80B 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 5040-R80B?
The closest Pantone Solid Coated match to NCS S 5040-R80B is 2748 C (#001871), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.79. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
What NCS color is closest to NCS S 5040-R80B?
The closest NCS neighbors to S 5040-R80B are S 4055-R95B (Ultramarine, Delta E 5.7), S 5040-B (Deep Blue, Delta E 9.4), S 4050-B (Navy Blue, Delta E 11.3). Codes within the same family typically differ by Delta E 2-8 - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where is NCS S 5040-R80B commonly used?
NCS S 5040-R80B 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 5040-R80B for a production run, verify against a physical NCS color fan - the same code looks meaningfully different in different finishes.