Dim Gray

HEX: #696969 | Modern Palette

On White
5.49:1
PASS
On Black
3.83:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#696969
RGB
105, 105, 105
HSL
0°, 0% ,41%
CMYK
0, 0, 0, 58.82

About Dim Gray

Dim Gray (#696969) is a color with RGB(105, 105, 105) and HSL(0°, 0%, 41.18%). It is commonly associated with Minimal moods. In design, it fits Monochrome, Muted styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is Dim Gray (#696969), which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes Dim Gray (#696969) and Dim Gray (#696969). The name comes from Dim Gray (English).

  • HEX: #696969
  • RGB: 105, 105, 105
  • HSL: 0°, 0%, 41.18%
  • Mood: Minimal
  • Style: Monochrome, Muted
  • Use case: Text, Background, Border
  • Complementary color: Dim Gray (#696969)
  • Triadic colors: Dim Gray (#696969), Dim Gray (#696969)
  • The name comes from Dim Gray (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Dim Gray #696969 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
DIM GRAY
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
DARK GRAY
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Dim Gray #696969 pairs with Dim Gray (#696969) as its complementary color, and Dim Gray (#696969) and Dim Gray (#696969) in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
DIM GRAY
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

DIM GRAY
DAVY GREY

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Dim Gray #696969 moves from dark #0D0D0D tones through the base color to lighter #F2F2F2 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

DIM GRAY

Color Characteristics

Mood
Minimal
Style
Monochrome Muted
Use case
Text Background Border

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #696969
Protanopia #696969
Tritanopia #696969
Achromatopsia #696969

Frequently Asked Questions

Dim Gray (#696969) is a color with RGB(105, 105, 105) and HSL(0°, 0%, 41.18%).

#696969 pairs strongly with Dim Gray (#696969) as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#696969 is suitable for Text, Background, Border and works well with Monochrome, Muted styles.

#696969 is commonly associated with Minimal.

The name Dim Gray is linked to Dim Gray from English, meaning A shade of gray that is not very bright or intense; somewhat dark and muted..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Dim Gray
Meaning A shade of gray that is not very bright or intense; somewhat dark and muted.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th - Early 20th Century (as a specific color name)

History

The concept of 'dim' (lacking brightness) and 'gray' (an achromatic color between black and white) are ancient. The combination 'Dim Gray' specifically describes a particular nuance of gray. Its prominence increased significantly with the advent of digital color systems. In the X11 color naming scheme, 'Dim Gray' was defined with the hexadecimal value #696969, making it a standard color in many computing environments. This standardization helped popularize the specific name and its associated hue.

First Recorded Use

While 'dim' and 'gray' have existed for centuries, the specific compound 'Dim Gray' as a recognized color name, particularly in technical or standardized contexts, likely emerged with the need for more precise color descriptions in industries like paint, textiles, and later, computing. Its inclusion in X11 color names (early 1990s) solidified its status.

Cultural Associations

In general, gray colors are often associated with neutrality, sophistication, modesty, and sometimes melancholy or industrial themes. 'Dim Gray' specifically, being a darker, muted gray, might evoke feelings of seriousness, professionalism, or a subdued elegance. It's a common background or secondary color in design due to its unobtrusive nature.

Similar Named Colors
Sonic Silver #757575 ΔE 4.70
Davy Grey #555555 ΔE 7.30
Gray #808080 ΔE 9.14
Cadet #536872 ΔE 9.21

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #696969;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #696969;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #696969;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #696969,
        #696969
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #696969,
        #696969
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$dim-gray: #696969;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$dim-gray-r: 105;
$dim-gray-g: 105;
$dim-gray-b: 105;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $dim-gray;
    color: rgba($dim-gray-r, $dim-gray-g, $dim-gray-b, 0.8);
}