The　color　face　recognition　method　using　quaternion　matrix　representation　is　based　on　RGB　color　space　which　is　a　fundamental　and　widely　used　space.　However,　the　RGB　color　space　is　a　relatively　weak　color　space　for　face　recognition　due　to　the　strong　correlation　between　the　three　color　channels.　A　technique　named　color　space　normalization　(CSN)　technique　can　reduce　the　correlation　between　the　three　channels　of　the　RGB　color　space,　and　enhance　the　discriminating　power　of　the　normalized　color　space　RGB-N.　Therefore,　in　this　paper,　a　method　based　on　normalized　color　space　RGB-N　and　quaternion　matrix　representation　is　firstly　proposed.　The　proposed　method　not　only　has　the　advantage　of　quaternion　matrix　representation　model,　but　also　has　the　strong　discriminating　power　due　to　CSN.　The　experiments　in　this　paper　are　performed　on　the　FERET　color　face　database.　Compared　with　the　method　based　on　RGB　color　space　and　quaternion　matrix　representation,　the　proposed　approach　in　this　paper　can　enhance　the　recognition　rate.　©　2012　IEEE.