Shades of white

Main article: White
White

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FFFFFF
RGBB (r, g, b) (255, 255, 255)
HSV (h, s, v) (-°, 0%, 100%)
Source By definition
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Shades of white are colors that differ only slightly from pure white. Variations of white include what are commonly termed off-white colors, which may be considered part of a neutral color scheme, pervasively paired with beiges in the 1930s,[1] and especially popular again from roughly 1955 to 1975.[2] Over-reliance on grays, beiges, and off-whites as a color scheme for interior decoration has been described as a simplistic choice made by amateur decorators with poor color vocabularies.[3]

Colors often considered "shades of white" may include, among others, cream, eggshell, ivory, navajo white, and vanilla. Even the lighting of a room, however, can cause a pure white to be perceived as off-white.[4]

Contents

White

Main article: White

White (#FFFFFF)

White

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FFFFFF
RGBB (r, g, b) (255, 255, 255)
HSV (h, s, v) (-°, 0%, 100%)
Source By definition
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness. White is the lightest possible color.

Variations of white (off-white colors)

Ghost white

Ghost White (#F8F8FF)

Ghost White

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #F8F8FF
RGBB (r, g, b) (248, 248, 255)
HSV (h, s, v) (240°, 3%, 100%)
Source X11[5]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The web color ghost white is a tint of white associated with what it is imagined the color of a ghost might be.

There is no evidence that this color name was in use before the X11 color names were formulated in 1987.

Snow

Snow (#FFFAFA)

Snow

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FFFAFA
RGBB (r, g, b) (255, 250, 250)
HSV (h, s, v) (24°, 3%, 100[6]%)
Source X11[5]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The web color snow is displayed at right.

The first recorded use of snow as a color name in English was in 1000.[7]

The color "snow" was included as one of the X11 colors when they were formulated in 1987.

In the drug culture, "snow" is a slang term for cocaine.

Ivory

Main article: Ivory (color)

Ivory (#FFFFF0)

Ivory

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FFFFF0
RGBB (r, g, b) (255, 255, 240)
HSV (h, s, v) (60°, 6%, 100%)
Source X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Ivory is an off-white color that resembles ivory, the material out of which the teeth and tusks of animals (such as, notably, the elephant and the walrus) is made. It has a very slight tint of yellow.

The first recorded use of ivory as a color name in English was in 1385.[8]

The color "ivory" was included as one of the X11 colors when they were formulated in 1987.


Seashell

Main article: seashell (color)

Seashell (#FFF5EE)

Seashell

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FFF5EE
RGBB (r, g, b) (255, 245, 238)
HSV (h, s, v) (25°, 7%, 100%)
Source X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Seashell is an off-white color that resembles some of the very pale pinkish tones that are common in many seashells.

The first recorded use of seashell as a color name in English was in 1926.[9]

In 1987, "seashell" was included as one of the X11 colors.

Cornsilk

Cornsilk (#FFF8DC)

Cornsilk

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FFF8DC
RGBB (r, g, b) (255, 248, 220)
HSV (h, s, v) (48°, 14%, 100%)
Source X11[5]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Cornsilk is a color that is a representation of the color of cornsilk.

The first recorded use of cornsilk as a color name in English was in 1927.[10]

In 1987, "cornsilk" was included as one of the X11 colors.

Old lace

Old Lace (#FDF5E6)

Old lace

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FDF5E6
RGBB (r, g, b) (253, 245, 230)
HSV (h, s, v) (40°, 6%, 100%)
Source X11[5]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Old lace is a web color that is a very pale yellowish orange that resembles the color of an old lace tablecloth.

It is one of the original X11 colors.

Old Lace is used as a color of a certain kind of Caucasian skin type in art.

Cream

Main article: Cream (color)

Cream (#FFFDD0)

Cream

— Colour coordinates —
Hex triplet #FFFDD0
RGBB (r, g, b) (255, 253, 208)
HSV (h, s, v) (57°, 18%, 100%)
Source X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Cream is a color that is a representation of the color of the cream produced by cattle.

The first recorded use of cream as a color name in English was in 1590.[11]

In 1987, "cream" was included as one of the X11 colors.

Beige

Main article: Beige

Beige (#F5F5DC)

Beige

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #F5F5DC
RGBB (r, g, b) (245, 245, 220)
HSV (h, s, v) (60°, 10%, 96%)
Source X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The color beige is displayed at right.

The first recorded use of beige as a color name in English was in 1887.[12]

The term originates from beige cloth, a cotton fabric left undyed in its natural color.


Linen

Linen (#FAF0E6)

Linen

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FAF0E6
RGBB (r, g, b) (250, 240, 230)
HSV (h, s, v) (30°, 8%, 98[13]%)
Source X11[5]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Linen is a web color that is a very pale orange color that resembles the color of linen.

It is one of the original X11 colors.


Antique white

Antique White (#FAEBD7)

Antique White

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FAEBD7
RGBB (r, g, b) (250, 235, 215)
HSV (h, s, v) (34°, 14%, 98%)
Source X11[5]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Antique white is a web color.

Champagne

Main article: Champagne (color)

Champagne (#F7E7CE)

Champagne

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #F7E7CE
RGBB (r, g, b) (247, 231, 206)
HSV (h, s, v) (37°, 17%, 97[14]%)
Source Maerz and Paul
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The color champagne is displayed at right.

The color's name is derived from the typical color of the beverage champagne.

The first recorded use of champagne as a color name in English was in 1915.[15]


Eggshell

Main article: Eggshell (color)

Eggshell (#F0EAD6)

Eggshell

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #F0EAD6
RGBB (r, g, b) (240, 234, 214)
HSV (h, s, v) (46°, 11%, 94[16]%)
Source ISCC-NBS
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The color eggshell is displayed at right.

The color eggshell is a representation of the average color of chicken eggs, including both white ones and brown ones.

Bone

Bone (#E3DAC9)

Bone

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #E3DAC9
RGBB (r, g, b) (227, 218, 201)
HSV (h, s, v) (39°, 12%, 89[17]%)
Source Kelly-Moore
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The color bone is displayed at right. This color is a representation of the color of bones.

The first recorded use of bone as a color name in English was in the first decade of the 19th century, i.e., between 1800 and 1810 (exact year uncertain).[18]

"Bone" colored paint is often used by landlords to paint vacant apartments that are for rent since it hides dirt and stains better than white.

Vanilla

Main article: Vanilla (color)

Vanilla (#F3E5AB)

Vanilla

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #F3E5AB
RGBB (r, g, b) (243, 229, 171)
HSV (h, s, v) (48°, 30%, 95[19]%)
Source ISCC NBS
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The color vanilla is a rich tint of off-white as well as a medium pale tint of yellow.

The first recorded use of vanilla as a color name in English was in 1925.[20]

Navajo white

Navajo White (#FFDEAD)

Main article: Navajo white
Navajo White

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #FFDEAD
RGBB (r, g, b) (255, 222, 173)
HSV (h, s, v) (36°, 32%, 100%)
Source X11[21]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Navajo White is an orangish white color, and derives its name from its similarity to the background color of the Navajo Nation ethnic flag.

In 1987, Navajo white was included as one of the X11 colors.


Ecru

Main article: Ecru

Ecru (#C2B280)

Ecru

— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet #C2B280
RGBB (r, g, b) (194, 178, 128)
HSV (h, s, v) (39°, 27%, 77%)
Source ISCC-NBS
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Ecru describes the shade greyish-pale yellow or a light greyish-yellowish brown. It is often used to describe such fabrics as silk and linen in their unbleached state. Ecru comes from the French word écru, which means literally 'raw' or 'unbleached'.


References

  1. ^ Ryan, Elaine (2007). Color Your Life: How to Design Your Home with Colors from Your Heart. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 12–15. http://books.google.com/books?id=vJo3kdKYEewC&lpg=PA15&dq=%22off%20white%22%20color&pg=PA15#v=onepage&q=%22off%20white%22%20color&f=false. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  2. ^ Mahnke, Frank H. (1996). Color, Environment, and Human Response. New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 80. http://books.google.com/books?id=fAsm_3cXISAC&lpg=PA80&dq=%22off%20white%22%20color&pg=PA80#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  3. ^ Miller, Mary C. (1997). Color for Interior Architecture. New York: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 139–40. http://books.google.com/books?id=96h-kqn2oJgC&lpg=PA139&dq=%22off%20white%22%20color&pg=PA139#v=onepage&q=%22off%20white%22%20color&f=false. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  4. ^ Sickler, Dean (2010). The Keys to Color: A Decorator's Handbook. p. 11. http://books.google.com/books?id=NllZKubiXGQC&lpg=PA45&dq=%22off%20white%22%20color&pg=PA11#v=onepage&q=%22off%20white%22%20color&f=false. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f CSS Color Module Level 3 (W3C):
  6. ^ web.forrett.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code for color #FFFAFA (Snow):
  7. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 204
  8. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 197; Color Sample of Ivory: Page 43 Plate 10 Color Sample B12
  9. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 204; Color Sample of Seashell: Page 43 Plate 10 Color Sample A4
  10. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 193; Color Sample of Cornsilk: Page 43 Plate 10 Color Sample G3
  11. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 193; Color Sample of Cream: Page 41 Plate 9 Color Sample D4
  12. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 190; Color Sample of Beige: Page 45 Plate 11 Color Sample C2
  13. ^ web.forrett.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code for color #FAF0E6 (Linen):
  14. ^ web.forrett.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code for color #F7E7CE (Champagne):
  15. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 192; Color Sample of Champagne: Page 45 Plate 11 Color Sample B3 Note: The color called Champagne in the color box above (color #F7E7CE) matches the color shown as Champagne in Maerz and Paul.
  16. ^ web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #F0EAD6 (Eggshell):
  17. ^ web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #E3DAC9 (Bone):
  18. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 190
  19. ^ web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #F3E5AB (Vanilla):
  20. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 206; Color Sample of Vanilla: Page 43 Plate 10 Color Sample C3
  21. ^ CSS Color Module Level 3:

See also

Shades of white
Anti-flash white Antique white Beige Blond Cornsilk Cosmic latte Cream Eggshell Floral white Ghost white
                   
Honeydew Isabelline Ivory Lavender blush Lemon chiffon Linen Magnolia Mint cream Munsell Navajo white
                   
Old lace Papaya whip Pearl Seashell Snow Splashed white Vanilla White White smoke
                 
The samples shown above are only indicative.