← Shades of gray

≈ Airy

#DFDCE4 is closest to Airy in our library. Airy (#DFDCE4) is a very light, neutral gray with a cool-leaning neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 262° and a lightness of 90%. As a neutral it supports other colors rather than competing with them.

#DFDCE4≈ Airy
Conversion

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

Description

Airy (#DFDCE4) is a very light, neutral gray with a cool-leaning neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 262° and a lightness of 90%. 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 light shade, Airy feels airy and gentle.

Meaning

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

Why use this color

Airy is a flexible base. Dark text is easy to read on it, so it works as a surface, highlight or card 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 Airy has a contrast ratio of 1.35:1 (fails); black text has 15.49:1 (AAA). 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#F7F6F8100#ECEAEE200#DFDCE4300#C2BFC9400#A49FAB500#888390600#716C78700#5A5660800#444149900#312F35950#1B1A1E
Analogous
Complementary
Split complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square

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

#DFDCE4
Typical visionAs most people see it
#DBDDE4
ProtanopiaReduced sensitivity to red
#DBDDE4
DeuteranopiaReduced sensitivity to green
#DEDDDE
TritanopiaReduced sensitivity to blue
#DDDDDD
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.
1.35:1
AAAAA
Normal textFailFail
Large textFailFail
Black textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
15.49:1
AAAAA
Normal textAAAAA
Large textAAAAA
Open the contrast checker
#DFDCE4 Color — closest to Airy (HEX, RGB, Shades) · Tintly