Centre Français de la Couleur

The Centre Français de la Couleur (CFC) is a French voluntary association founded in 1976, dedicated to the understanding and promotion of colour across a wide range of disciplines. Its roots lie in the Association française de colorimétrie, created in 1956 within the Centre d'information de la couleur under the presidency of Professor Yves Le Grand. The CFC was established in its current form in 1976 and has since served as a bridge between the many actors involved with colour — scientists, artists, designers, architects, industrialists and educators. The association's activities include conferences, exhibitions and publications produced by its members. It represents France in the Association Internationale de la Couleur (AIC) and organised an AIC congress in October 2000 using video conferencing. The CFC has also published several journals since its founding. From 1977, François Parra directed the publication of Information couleur: bulletin du Centre français de la couleur. From 1986, Michel Indergrand directed the publication of Primaires, a journal still published by the CFC. The CFC has been led by figures from both science and the humanities. Early presidents included Robert Sève, a doctor-engineer in the research department of Kodak-Pathé. From 2004 to 2016 the presidency was held by Annie Mollard-Desfour, a linguist at the CNRS. Patrick Callet, a physicist and researcher in digital fields, then served until 2025. The presidency is currently shared by Sonia Ovarlez, a doctor of chemistry at the Université Côte d'Azur, and Lionel Simonot, a lecturer in the physics department of the Université Claude Bernard Lyon and a specialist in the optical properties and appearance of materials. As a non-profit association, the CFC does not sell commercial products; its output consists of publications, events and representation of French colour expertise internationally. Its official website organises its interests around themes such as understanding (science, perception, research), creating (art, design, architecture), applying (industry, uses, society) and transmitting (culture), and it hosts webinars on colour-related topics.

The Centre Français de la Couleur (CFC) traces its origins to the Association française de colorimétrie, founded in 1956 within the Centre d'information de la couleur and presided over by Professor Yves Le Grand. The CFC was created in its current form in 1976 as a voluntary association. Its early leadership included Robert Sève, a doctor-engineer in the research department of Kodak-Pathé. From 2004 to 2016, the presidency was held by Annie Mollard-Desfour, a linguist at the CNRS. Patrick Callet, a physicist and researcher in digital fields, then served as president until 2025. The presidency is currently shared by Sonia Ovarlez, a doctor of chemistry at the Université Côte d'Azur, and Lionel Simonot, a lecturer in the physics department of the Université Claude Bernard Lyon and a specialist in the optical properties and appearance of materials. Throughout its history, the CFC has worked to advance knowledge and appreciation of colour by connecting its various actors across a broad disciplinary field. Its members organise conferences, exhibitions and publications. The association represents France in the Association Internationale de la Couleur (AIC) and organised an AIC congress in October 2000 using video conferencing. Since its founding in 1976, the CFC has published several journals. From 1977, François Parra directed the publication of Information couleur: bulletin du Centre français de la couleur. From 1986, Michel Indergrand directed the publication of Primaires, a journal still published by the CFC. The CFC has also published collective works such as Couleurs sensibles (Primaires no. 173, June 2013) and Couleurs plurielles (Primaires no. 174, June 2014), both edited by Annie Mollard-Desfour and Laurence Pauliac under CFC Editions.

• 2025

  Patrick Callet's presidency ends; Sonia Ovarlez and Lionel Simonot become co-presidents.

• 2014

  Publication of Couleurs plurielles, revue Primaires no. 174, CFC Editions.

• 2013

  Publication of Couleurs sensibles, revue Primaires no. 173, CFC Editions.

• 2004

  Annie Mollard-Desfour becomes president (until 2016).

• 2000

  CFC organises an AIC congress in October using video conferencing.

• 1986

  Michel Indergrand begins directing the publication of Primaires, still published by the CFC.

• 1977

  François Parra begins directing the publication of Information couleur: bulletin du Centre français de la couleur.

• 1976

  Centre Français de la Couleur created in its current form as a voluntary association.

• 1956

  Association française de colorimétrie founded within the Centre d'information de la couleur, presided by Professor Yves Le Grand.

A non-profit French association acting as a bridge between colour professionals and disciplines, representing France in the International Colour Association (AIC).

• Primaires

  Journal published by the CFC since 1986, directed by Michel Indergrand from that year.

• Information couleur: bulletin du Centre français de la couleur

  Bulletin published from 1977 under the direction of François Parra.

• Couleurs sensibles

  Collective work, revue Primaires no. 173, CFC Editions, June 2013, edited by Annie Mollard-Desfour and Laurence Pauliac.

• Couleurs plurielles

  Collective work, revue Primaires no. 174, CFC Editions, June 2014, edited by Annie Mollard-Desfour and Laurence Pauliac.

1. 1centre francais de la couleurcentrefrancaisdelacouleur.fr
2. 2Centre Français de la Couleurwikidata.org
3. 3Centre français de la couleurfr.wikipedia.org