Munsell Color Code

The Munsell Code of was designed as a visual color system for classification of rocks, sediments and soils. The Munsell notation for color consists of separate notations for hue, value and chroma, which are combined in that order to form a standardized notation.

The hue is noted as the letter abbreviation of the color of the rainbow (e.g., R for red, Y for Yellow, YR for yellow-red, or orange). The quality of this color is modified, for example more yellow or more red, by the preceding value (0-10). Looking at the orange hues color sample below, 'very pale orange 10 YR 8/2' is more yellow (>5 YR) than red (<5 YR), whereas 5 YR would be exactly in the middle of the two colors.

Value (part of the diagonal notation in the name) is rated on a scale from 0/ to 10/, with 0/ being absolute black, and 10/ for absolute white. Thus, a value of 5/ represents visually half-way between black and white, while 6/ is slightly less dark, then 5/, and 7/ would be even lighter. Thus, 10 YR 8/2 would be much more white than black in it's hue.

Finally, the chroma notation consists of numbers signifying the range of neutral grays (from /0 to /20, increasing in even digits). The maximum (/20) is never truly reached in the majority of natural systems.

Below are some illustrated examples of the colors (common name) and their Munsell color designation, as well as the RGB designation to assist in re-constructing the colors for your own purposes.