Placebo
Also known as: Unicorn Silver , Extraordinary Abundance of Tinge , Ambience White , Moon Lily
A muted gray with a quiet and sophisticated character, Placebo works well for neutral backgrounds and minimal interfaces. Placebo plays well with gray tones. The harmonies below show which ones. For accessible text, use it on black or near-black backgrounds (16.98:1, passes WCAG AA) rather than white.
Reference
Placebo color codes
- HEX
- #E7E7E7
- RGB
- rgb(231, 231, 231)
- RGBA
- rgba(231, 231, 231, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(0, 0%, 91%)
- HSV
- hsv(0, 0%, 91%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 9%)
- LAB
- lab(91.6 0.0 0.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(92.8% 0.000 0.0)
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
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: gainsboro #DCDCDC · ΔE 2.4
- RAL 9003: Signal white #F4F8F4 · ΔE 4.6 · 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 Placebo works
- Web & UI: Too light for text, ideal as a background wash that keeps a page from feeling sterile.
- Interiors: Wall-to-wall safe: it behaves like a white with personality, especially in north-facing rooms.
- 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.
- 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.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Placebo
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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 Placebo 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 1.24:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 16.98:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Placebo background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Placebo
Placebo with its complement
Soft neighbors of Placebo
Placebo triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Mercury #EBEBEB · ΔE 0.9
- Platinum #E5E4E2 · ΔE 1.2
- Whale Bone #E5E7E4 · ΔE 2.1
- Steam #DDDDDD · ΔE 2.2
- Chrome #E1DFE1 · ΔE 2.3
- Ghosted #E2E0DC · ΔE 2.6
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Placebo is closest to Mercury .
FAQ
Placebo FAQs
What color is Placebo?
Placebo is a light gray with the hex code #E7E7E7. In HSL terms it has a hue of 0°, 0% saturation, and 91% lightness.
What is the hex code for Placebo?
The hex code for Placebo is #E7E7E7. In RGB it's rgb(231, 231, 231), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 9%).
What colors go well with Placebo?
Placebo pairs naturally with gray tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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