Orchid vs Periwinkle

Orchid and Periwinkle are both blues, but they are not the same color: the measured difference between their classic values is ΔE 3.6, close: they read as matching at a glance.

Orchid

RGB: 122, 129, 255
HSL: 237, 100%, 74%
OKLCH: 65.9% 0.184 277.7

Temperature: cool

Closest encyclopedia entry: Orchid

Periwinkle

RGB: 142, 130, 254
HSL: 246, 98%, 75%
OKLCH: 67.5% 0.178 285.0

Temperature: cool

Closest encyclopedia entry: Periwinkle

Measured difference: ΔE 3.6 · close: they read as matching at a glance. ΔE is a measure of perceived color difference; below 2.3 most people can't tell colors apart.

Guide

How to tell Orchid and Periwinkle apart

1 Check them against a true neutral gray: subtle undertones surface immediately next to something with no undertone at all.

Guide

When to use which

Orchid is a surface color: it needs a dark background before it can carry text.

Periwinkle is a surface color: it needs a dark background before it can carry text.

Palettes

Their palettes, side by side

Orchid complementary palette

Periwinkle complementary palette

Orchid analogous palette

Periwinkle analogous palette

FAQ

FAQs

Are Orchid and Periwinkle the same color?

No. Using their classic reference values, they differ by ΔE 3.6 (a measure of perceived color difference; below 2.3 most people can't tell colors apart). That makes them close: they read as matching at a glance.

Which is darker, Orchid or Periwinkle?

Orchid is darker: 2 points lower in OKLCH lightness than Periwinkle.