Colorplan comes in 55 colour choices. It is made in the UK by the James Cropper mill in Kendal.

The names being retired are Imperial Blue, Bagdad Brown, and China White.

GF Smith global brand director Ben Watkinson explained the rationale behind the changes.

He said: “At GF Smith, colour is at the heart of everything we do. As a global business with an international community of designers, makers and brands, we recognise the importance of language in shaping how colours are perceived and experienced worldwide.

“With this in mind, we have renamed three shades in the GF Smith Colorplan range to ensure they are clear, inclusive and universally resonant,” Watkinson explained.

“Bagdad Brown is now Bark – a name that reflects the deep, organic warmth of the shade, inspired by the natural world. China White has been renamed Limestone White – a clearer reference to the soft, off-white tone, echoing the timeless beauty of natural stone – and Imperial Blue has become Loch Blue, evoking the depth and richness of still waters.”

Watkinson said the updates would ensure that its colour names were accessible and relevant to international audiences, while communicating the essence of each shade.

“The colours and papers themselves remain unchanged – only their names have evolved to better reflect their character in a way that speaks to the global creative community today,” he added.

The name changes are already reflected in the GF Smith price list, and will be phased in on its website and through upcoming sample launches over the coming months.

As part of the transition process, the old colour names will still be referenced for a while given the length of time they have been in use in the market and their inclusion in the current GF Smith Collection Book.

Hull-headquartered GF Smith rebranded in January with a radical new look.