Mittfärger

Mittfärger, from mitt meaning middle and färger meaning colors, is a term used in some Swedish-language discussions of color theory and design to denote colors that reside in the middle range of a palette. It is not a universally standardized term in color science, and its meaning can vary between authors.

In practice, mittfärger are midtones or mid-range hues that bridge high-contrast colors and the palette’s lightest and darkest tones. They provide visual harmony, help create smooth gradients, and serve as readable background colors where full brightness would overwhelm content.

In color spaces such as RGB, HSL, or CIELAB, mittfärger refer to colors with mid-lightness values and moderate saturation. They avoid clipping in shadows and highlights and support tonal depth without drawing attention away from focal elements.

Applications include graphic design, user interfaces, branding palettes, illustration, and painting. Designers use mittfärger to connect accents with neutrals, to create depth, or to establish a calm atmosphere.

Because mittfärger is not a fixed technical category, practitioners should define its scope within a project—specifying which lightness and saturation ranges count as midtones. When documenting palettes, listing midtone swatches or describing tonal intent can prevent ambiguity.

See also: color theory, midtone, palette, tonal value, color grading.