grayishblack

Grayishblack is a descriptive term used in color design to indicate a shade that is primarily black with a noticeable gray undertone. It is not a precise color name in standard color systems, but a way to convey appearance in different materials, lighting, and contexts.

In digital color representations, grayishblack can be approximated by very dark grays with red, green, and blue components near equal and low. Common rough ranges are RGB values around 20 to 40 on a 0–255 scale, such as hex values like #151515 or #2a2a2a. In print, it corresponds to a nearly black tone produced by a high proportion of black ink with small amounts of white or other pigments, resulting in a cool or neutral grayish-black.

Usage of the term is common in fashion, interior design, and automotive finishes, where surfaces may appear black at a glance but reveal gray under close inspection or different lighting. It is often chosen for a modern, understated aesthetic and can read as sophisticated or utilitarian depending on context. It is closely related to terms such as charcoal, graphite, and gunmetal, which describe similar dark gray–black tones.

Because grayishblack is descriptive rather than a standardized color name, it is not a CSS color and has no fixed hex or CMYK code. Designers specify it using swatches, brand color names, or descriptive notes rather than a universal identifier.