Dark grey is a very common color that we see all around us. From concrete sidewalks to stormy skies, dark grey can be found in many places. But is dark grey technically considered a “shade” or is it something else entirely? In this article, we’ll explore the definition of a shade, examine the properties of dark grey, and determine whether it qualifies as a true shade or not.
What is a Shade?
In color theory, a shade is a pure color that has been mixed with black. When black is added to a pure chromatic color like red or blue, it reduces the saturation and brightens the hue, creating a darker variant of the original color. Adding black also increases the color’s darkness and decreases its lightness. This process of darkening a color by adding black is called shading.
Some key characteristics of shades are:
- Shades are darker versions of a hue created by adding black.
- They have less saturation than the original hue.
- They reflect less light than the original hue.
For example, navy blue is considered a shade of blue because it was created by mixing pure blue with black. Pure blue has a brighter saturation while navy blue is much darker with less color intensity.
Properties of Dark Grey
Now let’s examine the specific properties of dark grey to determine if it fits the criteria of a shade.
Hue
Dark grey has no identifiable hue. Hue refers to the pigment or dominant wavelength of a color. Since grey contains a mixture of all colors along the light spectrum, it has no distinct hue of its own. The addition of black simply darkens the neutral grey rather than reducing the saturation of a specific hue.
Saturation
Dark grey has very low saturation compared to pure hues. Saturation measures how vivid or intense a color appears. Fully saturated colors are the purest and most vibrant form of the hue. Decreasing saturation results in more muted, greyish colors. Adding black to any hue will lower its saturation significantly. Since dark grey lacks an identifiable hue and is mixed with black, its saturation level is very low.
Lightness
Lightness refers to how light or dark a color is. Lighter shades reflect more light while darker shades absorb more light. Pure black absorbs the most light and has a lightness value of 0% while pure white reflects the most light with a lightness of 100%. Adding black to a color reduces its lightness considerably, making it appear darker. Dark grey has a low to medium lightness, ranging from about 25-50% depending on the specific shade.
Is Dark Grey a Shade?
Based on an analysis of its properties, dark grey does not meet the criteria to be considered a true shade.
While it is significantly darker than pure grey, dark grey is not created by adding black to a specific hue. Rather, it stems from adding black to grey which is already a mixture of colors along the light spectrum. Dark grey has low saturation and lightness like a shade but no identifiable hue to be “shaded” from. It occupies a nebulous area between pure black and mid-range greys.
The table below summarizes the properties of dark grey compared to a true shade like navy blue:
| Color | Hue | Saturation | Lightness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navy Blue (shade of blue) | Blue | Low | Low |
| Dark Grey | None | Very low | Low-Medium |
While not a pure shade, dark grey is sometimes referred to as a tone. A tone is created by adding grey to a pure hue. This reduces the saturation while maintaining the original hue. Since dark grey contains grey by definition, it can be categorized as a very dark neutral tone. However, it is not a shade in the strictest sense.
Conclusion
Based on an analysis of its properties, dark grey does not qualify as a true shade. Shades require adding black to a specific pure hue, which reduces the saturation and lightness of that hue. Dark grey has no identifiable hue and very low saturation. While it is significantly darker than pure grey, dark grey results from adding black to the neutral grey base rather than a chromatic hue. Therefore, dark grey is better categorized as a dark neutral tone or simply a dark grey with low saturation and lightness.
The lack of an identifiable hue prevents dark grey from being considered a shade in the strictest definition. However, colors exist on a continuum rather than in absolutes. Dark grey occupies a grey area (pun intended) sharing some qualities of shades but not all. Regardless of how it is categorized, dark grey remains a versatile color that can add sophisticated neutrality to any design.
