A computer implemented color space encoding system, encoder, decoder, method and data signal are disclosed. The encoding system comprises a data repository encoding data defining a fractal shape and a color space extending over the fractal shape whereby a color in the color space corresponds to a position on the fractal shape, the fractal shape having a fractal coordinate system for specifying a position on the fractal shape, an input interface configured to receive a color measurement and a processor configured to execute computer program code for executing a fractal coordinate encoder, including computer program code configured to obtain the color measurement from the input interface, computer program code configured to map the obtained color measurement to a color in the color space of the data repository, computer program code configured to determine the position of the color in the color space on the fractal shape and computer program code configured to output, via an output interface, fractal coordinates specifying the position on the fractal shape corresponding to the color measurement.