Pine green is a rich, deep green color that is quite dark and muted. It gets its name from the green color of pine trees and pine needles. But is pine green actually considered a dark shade of green? The answer depends on how you define “dark” when it comes to color. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the pine green color, examine how dark it is compared to other shades of green, and help you determine if pine green should be categorized as a dark green.
What is Pine Green?
Pine green is a deep, rich green color that has a slightly yellowish undertone. It’s a natural color named after the green needles of pine trees. Pine green falls somewhere between forest green and olive green on the color wheel. It’s a cool, dark green shade that is often associated with nature, the great outdoors, and evergreen trees.
Some key facts about the pine green color:
| Hex Code | #01796F |
| RGB Values | R: 1, G: 121, B: 111 |
| CMYK Values | C: 92, M: 0, Y: 38, K: 32 |
| HSV Values | H: 164, S: 99%, V: 47% |
As you can see from the technical specifications, pine green leans more towards the darker end of the green spectrum. The low value and brightness indicates a darkened, shaded green.
How Dark is Pine Green?
Now let’s evaluate exactly how dark pine green is compared to other green shades. Here’s a look at pine green alongside some other greens:
| Lime Green | Bright, light green |
| Forest Green | Deep, lush green |
| Pine Green | Dark, muted green |
| Hunter Green | Very dark green |
| Olive Green | Grayish muted green |
When viewed on the green spectrum, pine green falls around the midpoint, leaning to the darker side. It’s much darker than bright greens like lime, mint, or neon green. But it’s noticeably lighter than very deep dark greens like forest, emerald, or hunter green.
Compared to more muted green shades, pine green is darker than sage, olive, or fern green. It’s most similar to moss green, another natural muted green, but a bit darker and richer. Overall, pine green is on the darker side of medium greens.
Pine Green’s Darkness Level
There are a few ways we can evaluate a color’s darkness:
– **Shade:** Pine green is considered a shade, not a tint. Adding black to a color creates a shade and makes it darker.
– **Value:** Pine green has a low value around 20-30% on the value scale. Lower values indicate darker colors.
– **Brightness:** With a brightness level of about 30%, pine green has low-medium brightness. Darker greens have brightness levels around 20% or lower.
– **Saturation:** Pine green is considered a fairly saturated color, meaning it’s quite rich and intense rather than muted or grayish.
So in summary, while pine green is dark, it’s not at the extremely dark end of the green color spectrum. It falls around the midpoint, making it a rich, dark medium green.
Is Pine Green a Dark Color?
Based on an evaluation of its shade, value, brightness, and saturation, pine green fits firmly into the “dark green” color category. Here are some key reasons why pine green is considered dark:
– It has very low value, falling around 20-30% on the value scale. Low value = dark color.
– The brightness level of pine green is around 30%, on the lower end of the spectrum. Darker greens have even lower brightness.
– Pine green contains a high proportion of black, making it a “shaded” color rather than a pale tint. Adding black = darker shade.
– Although saturated, pine green is muted compared to neon or primary greens. Muted darkness rather than bright.
– It is noticeably darker than midrange greens like sage, moss, or fern. Closer to deep forest and hunter greens.
So based on these factors, design and color experts agree that pine green fits squarely into the dark green family. It’s considered a rich, darkened shade of green.
Use Cases for Pine Green
Now that we’ve determined pine green is definitely a darker green shade, here are some great ways to use it:
– **Nature designs** – pine green is perfect for designs related to the great outdoors, forests, trees, parks, and more.
– **Masculine spaces** – the darker, muted shade works well for masculine interior designs and accent walls.
– **Serene spaces** – pine green has a calming, tranquil vibe perfect for bedroom, spa, or meditation room designs.
– **Rustic décor** – pine green complements wood, stone, and metal textures in rustic or farmhouse styled spaces.
– **Holiday designs** – the deep green shade works nicely for winter holiday designs related to pine trees, garlands, wreaths.
– **Outdoor products** – pine green can be used for outdoorsy products like camping gear, gardening tools, hiking clothes.
– **Alternative to black** – pine green provides a softer, earthy alternative to harsh black in dark color schemes.
So in summary, the rich darkness of pine green makes it very versatile for all kinds of design applications where a muted, nature-inspired green is desired.
Matching Colors for Pine Green
To complement its dark green hue, here are some colors that aesthetically match and pair well with pine green:
– Neutrals like brown, tan, cream
– Mossy greens like sage, olive
– Earth tones like rust, clay, terra cotta
– Blues like navy, denim, teal
– Grays like charcoal, pewter, flint
– Yellow greens like chartreuse, lime
– Metallic accents like copper, bronze, gold
Avoid pairing pine green with very light or neon colors. Stick to other nature-inspired hues for harmonious combinations. For pops of contrast, bright yellows or oranges can work nicely with pine green.
Summary
So in conclusion, based on an evaluation of its technical specifications and comparison to other green shades, pine green should indeed be classified as a dark green color. Its low value/brightness, shaded darkness, and muted earthy tone all put pine green firmly into the dark end of the green family. It sits around the midpoint of the green spectrum, making it a rich, versatile, and aesthetically pleasing shade of dark green suitable for all kinds of intriguing design applications.
