← Shades of gray

Batman

Batman (#656E72) is a medium, neutral gray with a cool-leaning neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 198° and a lightness of 53%. As a neutral it supports other colors rather than competing with them.

#656E72Batman
Conversion

What Batman looks like, feels like and where it works.

Description

Batman (#656E72) is a medium, neutral gray with a cool-leaning neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 198° and a lightness of 53%. As a neutral it supports other colors rather than competing with them.

Psychology

Gray is neutral and composed. It recedes, which is why it is the workhorse of interfaces: borders, secondary text and surfaces that let accents stand out. As a mid-toned shade, Batman sits comfortably in the middle: present but not heavy.

Meaning

Gray suggests balance, restraint and professionalism, and sometimes dullness if nothing else adds life.

Why use this color

Batman is a flexible base. It carries white text well, so it works as a button, header or badge background. Pair it with its tints and shades for a complete scale.

Applications
  • UI borders, text and surfaces
  • Technology and architecture
  • Minimal, balanced layouts
  • Backdrops for accent colors
History

Gray is one of the oldest color words in English. Payne's gray is named after the eighteenth century watercolorist William Payne.

Accessibility

White text on Batman has a contrast ratio of 5.21:1 (AA); black text has 4.02:1 (fails for body text). WCAG AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text and interface parts. Do not rely on color alone to carry meaning: pair it with text, an icon or a pattern.

ShadesMixed with black: darker and richer.
TintsMixed with white: lighter and softer.
TonesMixed with gray: quieter and less saturated.
HuesThe same lightness and strength, turned around the wheel.
TemperaturesPushed cooler on the left, warmer on the right.
50#F5F7F8100#E8ECEE200#D5DCDF300#B8C3C8400#96A4AA500#7A8990600#656E72700#4E5A5F800#3B4448900#2A3235950#161C1E
Analogous
Complementary
Split complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square

Want to explore these on a wheel? Open the color wheel.

#656E72
Typical visionAs most people see it
#6C6D72
ProtanopiaReduced sensitivity to red
#6A6C72
DeuteranopiaReduced sensitivity to green
#626F6F
TritanopiaReduced sensitivity to blue
#6C6C6C
AchromatopsiaNo color, only light and dark

These are approximations to help you check that meaning never depends on color alone. Real vision varies from person to person.

White textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
5.21:1
AAAAA
Normal textAAFail
Large textAAAAA
Black textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
4.02:1
AAAAA
Normal textFailFail
Large textAAFail
Open the contrast checker