Dim Gray vs Gray

Dim Gray #696969 View details →

Gray #808080 View details →

What is the difference between Dim Gray and Gray?

An analysis of Dim Gray (#696969) alongside Gray (#808080) highlights their unique visual relationship. Both colors share a very similar saturation index, making their color intensity nearly equal. Under screen illumination, Gray is significantly brighter and reflects more light. They have a close hue coordinate distance of 0°, representing a harmonized adjacent relationship.

Design recommendations for Dim Gray vs Gray

When choosing between Dim Gray and Gray for interface designs, consider their visual weight. Since Dim Gray is darker, it serves as a solid base for structural layouts or heavy typography, while the lighter Gray is ideal for backgrounds or high-visibility accents. Testing their contrast ratio is essential to meet WCAG accessibility guidelines.

✦ Readability & Contrast Testing

Visual test showing black and white text overlay readability on both colors.

Dim Gray Typography

Preview of dark and light text elements rendered over a solid Dim Gray background canvas.

White Text: 5.49:1 Black Text: 3.83:1

Gray Typography

Preview of dark and light text elements rendered over a solid Gray background canvas.

White Text: 3.95:1 Black Text: 5.32:1

⚙ Technical Specifications Comparison

Format / Value	Dim Gray	Gray	Delta / Difference
HEX Code	`#696969`	`#808080`	-
RGB Channels	`rgb(105, 105, 105)`	`rgb(128, 128, 128)`	`R:+23 \| G:+23 \| B:+23`
HSL Values	`hsl(0°, 0%, 41%)`	`hsl(0°, 0%, 50%)`	`H:0° \| S:0% \| L:+9%`
CMYK (Print)	`cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 59%)`	`cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 50%)`	-

◉ Individual Color References

Dim Gray Reference Sheet HEX, RGB, HSL and print codes

Gray Reference Sheet HEX, RGB, HSL and print codes