Grey with blue undertone is a cool-toned grey color. It has a blueish hue that sets it apart from neutral greys. Identifying if a grey has blue undertones can help with color matching in fashion, interior decorating, graphic design, and more. Knowing the technical names for grey with blue undertone helps communicate color choices accurately.
What is a Blue Undertone?
An undertone refers to the subtle hue that underlies what appears to be a neutral color. For example, grey is considered a neutral color. But many greys have a subtle warm reddish undertone or cool bluish undertone.
The undertone affects how the color is perceived and how it interacts with other colors. A grey with warm red undertones will look different next to a bright blue than a grey with cool blue undertones.
Identifying undertones helps choose the most harmonious and flattering colors for your skin tone, eyes, hair color, and surroundings. So accurately naming colors by their undertones has practical applications.
Technical Color Names for Grey with Blue Undertone
In technical terms, grey with a blue undertone is identified by words that indicate the coolness and blueish nature of the hue. Here are some examples of technical names for greys with blue undertones:
Bluish Gray
This name clearly indicates the grey has a noticeable blue tint. It is a universal term used across industries and applications.
Blue-Gray
The hyphenated version “blue-gray” is also commonly used.
Cool Gray
“Cool” is used to designate blue, green, and purple undertones. So a “cool gray” has blue mixed in.
Platinum Gray
Platinum is sometimes used poetically to refer to light cool-toned greys like blue-greys. The glossy sheen of the metal platinum reflects light with a subtle cool tone.
Galvanized Gray
Galvanized metals like galvanized steel take on a blue-grey color through the galvanization process. So the term “galvanized gray” indicates a grey with blue-green cool undertones.
Cascade Gray
Nature-inspired color names like cascade evoke blue or cool tones associating the gray color with refreshing blue water.
Lunar Gray
Lunar and moon themes connect the gray color to the cool light of the moon, giving it a faint blue cast.
Using Numbers and Codes
In product design and industrial applications, specific codes identify the blue-gray tone so colors can be precisely replicated.
Pantone Colors
The Pantone Matching System gives standardized codes to colors for design purposes. Pantone colors with “C” indicate cool undertones. Examples of Pantone blues grays include:
– PANTONE 15-4706 C
– PANTONE 16-4339 C
– PANTONE 16-4318 C
CMYK Codes
CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black). By adjusting these four ink colors, any hue can be created. Blue gray CMYK codes have higher cyan content, with very little magenta and yellow. For example:
– C70, M45, Y40, K55
– C75, M40, Y30, K40
The high cyan content adds blue to the gray.
RGB Codes
RGB codes identify colors using combinations of red, green, and blue light. Blue grays have higher blue values. For example:
– RGB 130, 150, 170
– RGB 140, 190, 220
The high blue value imbues the gray with a cool blue cast.
HEX Codes
HEX color codes use hexadecimal numbers to specify mixtures of red, blue and green. Neutral grays have equal values for each. Blue-tinged grays have higher blue values. For example:
– #96979F
– #99C4EB
So HEX codes provide a precise numerical identification of grey with blue undertones.
Natural Blue-Gray Colors
Some examples of blue gray tones found in nature include:
Blue Whale
The blue whale, the largest animal in the world, has a blue-gray appearance from the interplay of blue and white pigments in its skin. Their coloration perfectly camouflages the whales in the blue ocean depths.
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher
This petite American songbird has feathers in a distinctive bluish gray color. Their cool toned plumage helps them blend into the bark and leaves of the trees where they forage for insects.
Blue Gray Tanager
Another bird with blue-gray feathers is the blue gray tanager, a medium-sized songbird found in South America. Their slaty blue plumage transitions into gray wings and tail.
Blue Gray Gneiss
Gneiss is a type of metamorphic rock with alternating light and dark mineral bands. Blue gray gneiss contains minerals like quartz and feldspar that give it a blue-tinged medium to dark gray color.
London Blue Topaz
London blue topaz is a pale grayish blue semi-precious gemstone. It is an aluminum silicate mineral that can display cool blue-gray tones when faceted and polished.
Uses of Blue Gray
Identifying gray colors by their blue undertones has many practical applications across different industries and design fields.
Interior Design
In interior decorating, blue grays work well in color schemes aiming for tranquil, relaxed spaces. Blue grays add a touch of coolness compared to warm greys. Bluish gray walls can provide a soothing backdrop for bright accent colors.
Fashion
Cool blue gray clothing flatters people with fair cool skin tones, bringing out blue eyes or ash blonde and platinum hair. Blue gray color schemes lend themselves to icy metallic finishes and futuristic styles.
Branding
Blue grays convey calm competence and reliability for corporate and professional brands. Blue grays work for innovative technology companies with a sleek, forward-thinking image. Light blue grays project professionalism with a touch of creativity.
Paint
Paint companies like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have many shades of gray with blue undertones. Blue gray paint produces an understated, refined look. Gray blue rooms feel open and airy and complement modern decor.
Cars and Vehicles
Blue gray is a popular contemporary car color, like Audi Soho Gray and BMW Mineral Gray. Auto manufacturers can use blue gray paints to give vehicles a sleek, streamlined aesthetic. Blue grays look striking on sports cars and luxury vehicles.
Psychology of Blue Gray
Color psychology sheds light on why blue gray is appealing in so many design contexts.
Calming Effect
Blue is well-known for having a calming, tranquilizing effect on the nervous system. Mixing blue with gray enhances this relaxing impression. Blue grays are therapeutic colors that reduce stress.
Contemporary Feel
Gray generally gives a sleek, modern impression. Adding a blue tint increases the futuristic, cutting-edge sensation of gray for a crisp contemporary color. Cool blue grays align with minimalist styles.
Subtle Sophistication
Gray has an innate elegance and blue deepens the refinement with a rich, upscale impression. Blue gray therefore combines sophistication and subtlety for an understated expensive look.
Clean and Crisp
Crisp light blue grays feel ethereal, pure, and unsullied like a winter sky after snowfall. Deeper blue grays have a graphite blue intensity for an exquisite color palette.
Versatile Neutral
While not a pure neutral, blue gray works well as a background color for bold accents. Despite its coolness, blue gray pairs nicely with warm metallic finishes. This versatility makes blue gray widely usable.
Conclusion
Grey with a blue undertone has many specific identifying names beyond just “blue gray” – from technical terminology like platinum gray and RGB codes, to creative names like cascade gray. The blue tint gives grey a clean, calming energy that suits relaxed contemporary spaces and stylish products and designs. Using exact color names for shades of blue gray allows for perfect color matching and communication of color tones and their impacts. So knowing the nomenclature of greys with blue undertones empowers creatives and design professionals to achieve their desired look and effects.
