Alpha Industries ® CWU-Bomberjacket CWU 45(N) in gunmetal grey
Gray is a fascinating color that is often associated with a wide range of emotions and meanings. While it is commonly linked to pessimism, depression, and boredom, gray also represents neutrality, elegance, and contentment. It is a color that is often used to convey a sense of mystery and ambiguity.
Chart of Computer Web Color Grays
Chart of computer web color grays
There are various shades of gray, each with its own unique characteristics. Achromatic grays, for example, are colors that lie exactly between white and black and have low colorfulness. These include achromatic grays like gainsboro, light gray, silver, dark gray, and dim gray.
White and Black
White
White and black are often not considered shades of gray, but rather shades of achromatic gray. This is because they contain equal amounts of red, blue, and green, resulting in a lack of hue. White is the lightest possible color, while black is the darkest.
Achromatic Grays
Achromatic grays are colors where the red, green, and blue values are exactly equal. They are the axis of the color sphere, with white at the top and black at the bottom. The various tones of achromatic gray range from white to black.
Gray
Gray
Gray is a medium shade of achromatic gray. It is a color that has been used for centuries and is known for its versatility. In fact, the first recorded use of the word "gray" as a color name dates back to 700 AD. Gray is often considered the standard for gray since it is the tone that is halfway between white and black.
Gainsboro
Gainsboro
Gainsboro is a pale tone of gray. It was added to the X11 color names list in the 1980s and is widely recognized as a web color. Gainsboro was initially absent from the original list but gained popularity due to its light and off-white qualities.
Silver
Silver
Silver is a representation of the color of the metal itself. It is a metallic color that is often associated with elegance and sophistication. However, displaying true metallic colors on a flat computer screen is not possible.
Medium Gray
Medium gray
Medium gray, also known as gray in the X11 color names, is lighter than HTML/CSS gray. The coordinates for medium gray were set at 190 in the X11 color names to prevent it from appearing as white on 2-bit grayscale displays. Some colors may differ between HTML/CSS and X11 standards.
Spanish Gray
Spanish gray
Spanish gray, also known as "gris" in Spanish, is a shade of gray popularized by the color dictionary "Guía de coloraciones." This dictionary, published in 2005, is widely used in the Hispanophone realm for color references.
Davy's Gray
Davy's gray
Davy's gray is a dark gray color made from powdered slate, iron oxide, and carbon black. It is named after Henry Davy, and its first recorded use as a color name in English was around 1940.
Off-Grays
Off-grays are colors that are very close to achromatic grays but have slightly varying red, green, and blue color codes.
Xanadu
Xanadu
Xanadu is a greenish-gray color inspired by the Philodendron plant. Its name is derived from the 2001 Resene RGB Values List.
Platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a metallic tint of pale grayish-white, resembling the metal itself. However, displaying metallic colors on a flat computer screen is challenging. The first recorded use of platinum as a color name in English was in 1918.
Ash Gray
Ash gray
Ash gray is a representation of the color of ash. It is a pale gray color that is often associated with the remnants of burned wood. The first recorded use of ash gray as a color name in English was in 1374.
Battleship Gray
Battleship gray
Battleship gray gets its name from the shade of gray used for rustproofing iron and steel battleships. The normalized color coordinates for battleship gray are identical to old silver. The color name battleship gray was first recorded in English in 1905.
Gunmetal
Gunmetal
Gunmetal is a shade of gray that has a bluish purple tinge. It is associated with the color of several metals used in industrial applications, such as tarnished gunmetal or parkerized steel.
Charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is a representation of the dark gray color of burned wood. It is a color that is often used to create a sense of depth and richness. The first recorded use of charcoal as a color name in English was in 1606.
Stone Gray
Stone gray
Stone gray is a color represented in the list of RAL classic colors. It is the main color on the Indian 500-rupee note.
Cool Grays
Cool grays have bluish, greenish, or violetish hues that add a touch of coolness to the color.
Cool Gray
Cool gray
Cool gray is a medium-light blue-gray color. It is a dull shade of blue-gray that is often used to convey a sense of calmness and tranquility. The phrase "cool grey city of love," referring to San Francisco, alludes to the frequent fogs from the Pacific Ocean that envelop the city.
Cadet Gray
Cadet gray
Cadet gray is a slightly bluish shade of gray that has a military connection. It was the color of the uniforms of the Confederate Army and the United States Military Academy (West Point). The first recorded use of cadet gray as a color name in English was in 1912.
Blue-Gray
Blue-gray
Blue-gray was a Crayola crayon color from 1958 to 1990. It is a color that combines blue and gray tones to create a unique shade. Blue-gray can be associated with a sense of serenity and tranquility.
Glaucous
Glaucous
Glaucous is a greenish-gray color that often appears in the natural world. It is associated with the pale gray or blue appearance of certain plants and the names of various birds and species. The word glaucous comes from the Latin word "glaukos," meaning bluish-gray.
Slate Gray
Slate gray
Slate gray is a representation of the average color of slate material. It has a slight azure tinge that sets it apart from other shades of gray. Slate gray was first recorded as a color name in English in 1705.
Gray-Green
Gray-green
Gray-green, also known as grayish-green or greenish-gray, is a color that combines green and gray tones. It is a versatile color that can evoke a sense of calmness and harmony.
Marengo
Marengo
Marengo is a shade of gray or blue that is sometimes described as the color of wet asphalt. It is a color that has a unique blend of depth and richness. Marengo is often associated with strength and resilience.
Warm Grays
Warm grays are colors that have brownish, pinkish, or reddish-purple undertones. They bring warmth and richness to the color gray.
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz crystals on muscovite
Rose quartz is a grayish tone of rose. It has a subtle pink hue and is often associated with love and tenderness. The first recorded use of rose quartz as a color name in English was in 1926.
Cinereous
Cinereous
Cinereous is an ashy gray color that resembles ashes. It has a gray color tinged with a coppery brown hue. The first recorded use of cinereous as a color name in English was in 1661.
Taupe
Taupe
Taupe is a dark grayish-yellowish-brown color. It has been referenced in color dictionaries and is often associated with earthy tones. The word "taupe" is believed to have originated from the French word "gris," meaning gray, and was first used as a color name in English in the early 19th century.
Greige
Greige
Greige is a warm gray color that combines beige and gray. Its name originated from the French word "gris," which means gray. Greige gained popularity in the fashion industry when Georgio Armani introduced it in 1975.
The Many Shades of Gray
Gray is a color that encompasses a wide range of emotions and meanings. From achromatic grays to off-grays, cool grays, and warm grays, each shade has its own unique characteristics and associations. Whether it's the elegance of silver, the tranquility of cool grays, or the warmth of taupe, gray continues to inspire and captivate us.
References
- Maerz, Aloys John, and Paul, M. Rea (1930) A Dictionary of Color, New York: McGraw-Hill
