Since 1948 Color-aid Corp. has been manufacturing the Color-aid system of colored paper. Initially developed as a backdrop for photographers, Color-aid was soon thereafter discovered by Josef Albers and has since then become an indispensable teaching tool in art and design classes.

The Full Set contains the complete range of 314 matt-finished colors. The system consists of 34 vivid hues (saturated colors), 100 tints (clean, light colors), 47 shades (dark, deep colors), 114 pastels (muted, or soft colors) and 17 grays from dark to light, plus black and white. Note that the Full Set has 114 pastels compared to 36 in the Standard Set. Pastels comprise the majority of colors we see around us and therefore form an important part in the study and application of color in art and design.