Cathedral
Also known as: Cathedral Grey , Actor’s Star , Ellie Grey , Silver Grey
On screen, Cathedral registers as balanced and versatile: a soft gray at home in neutral backgrounds and minimal interfaces. Because it leans neutral, balancing it with a gray keeps a palette from feeling one-note. For accessible text, use it on black or near-black backgrounds (9.06:1, passes WCAG AA) rather than white.
Reference
Cathedral color codes
- HEX
- #ACAAA7
- RGB
- rgb(172, 170, 167)
- RGBA
- rgba(172, 170, 167, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(36, 3%, 66%)
- HSV
- hsv(36, 3%, 67%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 1%, 3%, 33%)
- LAB
- lab(69.7 0.3 1.8)
- OKLCH
- oklch(73.9% 0.005 78.3)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
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neutral, leaning warm
subtle yellow undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: darkgray #A9A9A9 · ΔE 1.8
- RAL 9006: White aluminium #A5A8A6 · ΔE 2.7 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck. Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Cathedral works
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
- Interiors: Muted enough to paint all four walls; sample it in both daylight and evening light before committing.
- Fashion: Works as a base layer or outerwear tone that lets brighter pieces do the talking.
- Branding: As a brand anchor it reads established and tactile; pair with a single vivid accent for energy.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land: a front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Cathedral
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Cathedral by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 2.32:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 9.06:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Cathedral background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Cathedral
Cathedral with its complement
Soft neighbors of Cathedral
Cathedral triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Quicksilver #A6A6A6 · ΔE 2.1
- Dove #B3ADA7 · ΔE 2.4
- Mercurial #B6B0A9 · ΔE 3.1
- Wolfram #B5B6B7 · ΔE 4.0
- Rose Ashes #B5ACAB · ΔE 4.1
- Rampart #BCB7B1 · ΔE 4.2
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Cathedral is closest to Quicksilver .
FAQ
Cathedral FAQs
What color is Cathedral?
Cathedral is a medium gray with the hex code #ACAAA7. In HSL terms it has a hue of 36°, 3% saturation, and 66% lightness.
What is the hex code for Cathedral?
The hex code for Cathedral is #ACAAA7. In RGB it's rgb(172, 170, 167), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 1%, 3%, 33%).
What colors go well with Cathedral?
Cathedral pairs naturally with gray tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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