Graphite vs Oil

Graphite leans brown; Oil leans gray. The measured difference between their classic values is ΔE 5.8, noticeably different side by side.

Graphite

RGB: 56, 52, 40
HSL: 45, 17%, 19%
OKLCH: 32.5% 0.021 91.8

Temperature: neutral, leaning warm (subtle yellow undertone in this near-neutral)

Closest encyclopedia entry: Graphite

Oil

RGB: 49, 51, 48
HSL: 100, 3%, 19%
OKLCH: 31.8% 0.006 134.9

Temperature: neutral, leaning warm (subtle green undertone in this near-neutral)

Closest encyclopedia entry: Oil

Measured difference: ΔE 5.8 · noticeably different side by side. ΔE is a measure of perceived color difference; below 2.3 most people can't tell colors apart.

Guide

How to tell Graphite and Oil apart

1 Graphite carries more chroma, so it reads more saturated. Oil looks grayer in direct comparison.
2 Their hues sit 43 degrees apart on the wheel. Put them on white side by side and the hue gap is the first thing you see.
3 Check them against a true neutral gray: subtle undertones surface immediately next to something with no undertone at all.

Guide

When to use which

Graphite passes AA for text on white (12.43:1), so it can work in type and trim, not just surfaces.

Oil passes AA for text on white (12.75:1), so it can work in type and trim, not just surfaces.

Palettes

Their palettes, side by side

Graphite complementary palette

Oil complementary palette

Graphite analogous palette

Oil analogous palette

FAQ

FAQs

Are Graphite and Oil the same color?

No. Using their classic reference values, they differ by ΔE 5.8 (a measure of perceived color difference; below 2.3 most people can't tell colors apart). That makes them noticeably different side by side.

Which is darker, Graphite or Oil?

Oil is darker: 1 points lower in OKLCH lightness than Graphite.