Shades of white

{{Short description|Varieties of the color white}} {{Redirect|Off-white|other uses|}} {{infobox color | title=White | hex=FFFFFF | symbolism = Purity, Heaven, snow, knowledge, clarity, innocence, brightness | image=Image:Color icon white.svg | source=By definition }}

Shades of white are colors that differ slightly from the CIE standard illuminant D65, a white point that represents the average color of daylight at noon. There isn't one objectively pure white, as noon daylight varies by location and atmospheric conditions, and the choice of using D65 instead of direct sunlight or a white point on the Planckian locus is arbitrary. For simplicity, this article will use the term ''pure white'' for the D65 white point.

Variations of white include what are commonly termed '''off-white''' colors, which may be considered part of a neutral color scheme.

In color theory, a ''shade'' is a pure color mixed with black (or having a lower lightness). Strictly speaking, a "shade of white" would be a neutral gray. This article is also about off-white colors that vary from pure white in hue, and in chroma (also called saturation, or intensity).

Colors often considered "shades of white" include cream, eggshell, ivory, Navajo white, and vanilla. Even the lighting of a room, however, can cause a pure white to be perceived as off-white.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Keys to Color: A Decorator's Handbook |last=Sickler |first=Dean |year=2010 |isbn= 9781439270486|page=11 |publisher=The Keys to Color |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NllZKubiXGQC&q=%22off+white%22+color&pg=PA11 |access-date=17 December 2010}}</ref>

Off-white colors were pervasively paired with beiges in the 1930s,<ref>{{cite book |title=Color Your Life: How to Design Your Home with Colors from Your Heart |last=Ryan |first=Elaine |year=2007 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York |isbn= 9780312368197|pages=12–15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vJo3kdKYEewC&q=%22off+white%22+color&pg=PA15 |access-date=17 December 2010}}</ref> and especially popular again from roughly 1955 to 1975.<ref>{{cite book |title=Color, Environment, and Human Response |last= Mahnke|first=Frank H. |year=1996 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |location=New York |isbn= 9780471286677|page=80 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fAsm_3cXISAC&q=%22off%20white%22%20color&pg=PA80 |access-date=17 December 2010}}</ref> In terms of paint, off-white paints are now becoming more popular, with Benjamin Moore having 152 shades of off-whites, Behr having 167, and PPG having 315.<ref>{{cite news |last=Korn |first=Melissa |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/simply-white-snowfall-white-school-house-white-proliferation-of-white-paint-shades-stupefies-renovators-11628776829 |title=Simply White, Snowfall White, School House White: Proliferation of White Paint Shades Stupefies Renovators |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=2021-08-12 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813053430/https://www.wsj.com/articles/simply-white-snowfall-white-school-house-white-proliferation-of-white-paint-shades-stupefies-renovators-11628776829 |archivedate=2021-08-13 |accessdate=2021-08-13 }}</ref>

Whiteness measures the degree to which a surface is white in colorimetry.

==Web colors== Below is a chart showing the computer web color shades of white. An ''achromatic white'' is a white color in which the red, green, and blues codes are exactly equal. The web colors ''white'' and ''white smoke'' are achromatic colors. A ''chromatic shade of white'' is a white color in which the red, green, and blue codes are not exactly equal, but are close to each other, which is what makes it a shade of white.

{| style="border: 1px solid #000;margin:auto;" |- !HTML color name ! colspan="2" | Sample !Hex triplet |- | | <small>(rendered by name)</small> | <small>(rendered by hex triplet)</small> |- | White | style="background:White; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | style="background:#ffffff; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | #FFFFFF |- | Whitesmoke | style="background:WhiteSmoke; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | style="background:#f5f5f5; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | #F5F5F5 |- | White solid | style="background:WhiteSolid; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | style="background:#f4f5fa; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | #F4F5FA |- | Snow | style="background:Snow; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | style="background:#FFFAFA; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | #FFFAFA |- | Honeydew | style="background:Honeydew; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | style="background:#F0FFF0; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | #F0FFF0

|- | Lavenderblush | style="background:LavenderBlush; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | style="background:#FFF0F5; border: 0.1px solid #000000 | | #FFF0F5 |}

==White== {{Main|White }} {{color swatch|#FFFFFF|White|left}} {{infobox color |title=White |hex=FFFFFF| |source=By definition |isccname=White}}

''White'' in the sRGB color space and many other color gamuts, is based on the CIE standard illuminant D65. Its purpose is to emulate daylight during noon, to give a natural illumination. The perception of white is evoked when light is distributed along the spectrum roughly like a blackbody from 5800–6800K, and when such light has high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will have negligible hue and grayness. {{Clear}} {{anchor|Variations of white (off-white colors)}}

==Sunlight== {{color swatch|#FFF3EF|Sunlight|left}} {{infobox color |title=Sunlight |hex=FFF3EF |source=[https://jila.colorado.edu/~ajsh/colour/Tspectrum.html CU Boulder] |isccname=White}}

''Sunlight'' is the color of sunlight as viewed from outer space, without any atmospheric effects. The calculated CIE 1931 xy chromaticity coordinates for the color of the Sun are approximately 0.3233 and 0.3326. With xy coordinates of 0.3230 and 03329, the sRGB color #FFF3EF is the one that gets the closest to these coordinates. {{Clear}}

==Chalk white== {{Anchor|Chalk white}} {{color swatch|#FBFFFF|Chalk white|left}} {{infobox color |title=Chalk white |hex=FBFFFF |source=Pourpre<ref>{{cite web |title=Couleur de craie _ définition et codes couleur - pourpre.com |url=http://pourpre.com/fr/dictionnaire/file/craie |website=Pourpre |access-date=30 December 2022 |archive-date=10 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810170523/http://pourpre.com/fr/dictionnaire/file/craie |url-status=dead }}</ref> |isccname=White}}

''Chalk white'' is a tint of white resembling the chalk color. {{Clear}}

==Ghost white== {{Anchor|Ghost white}} {{color swatch|#F8F8FF|Ghost white|left}} {{infobox color |title=Ghost white |hex=F8F8FF |source=X11<ref name="CSS Color Module Level 3 W3C">{{Cite web|url=http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-color/#svg-color|title=CSS Color Module Level 3}}</ref> |isccname=White}}

The web color ''ghost white'' is a tint of white loosely inspired by traditional representations of ghosts. There is no evidence that this color name was in use before the X11 color names were formulated in 1987.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} {{Clear}}

==White smoke== {{Anchor|White smoke}} {{color swatch|#F5F5F5|White smoke|left}} {{infobox color |title=White smoke |hex=F5F5F5 |source=X11 |isccname=White}}

The web color ''white smoke'' is displayed on the left.

There is no evidence that this color name was in use before the X11 color names were formulated in 1987. The color is also known as '''Cultured Pearl''', one of crayon colors issued by Crayola in its 16-pack of Pearl Brite Crayons.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Crowther|first=Jenny|title=16 Count Crayola Pearl Brite Crayons: What's Inside the Box|url=http://www.jennyscrayoncollection.com/2015/12/crayola-pearl-brite-crayons.html|access-date=2021-11-17|website=Jenny's Crayon Collection}}</ref> {{clear}}

==White solid== {{Anchor|White solid}} {{color swatch|#F4F5FA|White solid|left}} {{infobox color |title=White solid |hex=F4F5FA |source=Color Hex Map<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.colorhexmap.com/f4f5fa|title=#f4f5fa Hex Color - White Solid|first=Color Hex|last=Map|website=Color Hex Map}}</ref> |isccname=White}}

The web color ''white solid'' is displayed on the left.

There is no evidence that this color name was in use before the X11 color names were formulated in 1987. Sometimes also known as '''Ghost White''', the color has marked blue hues, although is otherwise very close to being completely white in the RGB color system.<ref>{{Cite web|title=#f4f5fa Hex Color - White Solid - Color Hex Map|url=https://www.colorhexmap.com/f4f5fa|access-date=2022-06-20|website=Color Hex Map}}</ref> {{clear}}

==Baby powder== {{color swatch|#FEFEFA|Baby powder|left}} {{infobox color |title=Baby powder |hex=FEFEFA |source=Crayola |isccname=White}} [[File:Talcum Powder.JPEG|alt=Talcum or baby powder|thumb|Talcum or baby powder]] The Crayola crayon color ''baby powder'' was introduced in 1994 as part of its specialty Magic Scent crayon collection. It is a very light yellow. {{Clear}}

==Snow== {{color swatch|#FFFAFA|Snow|left}} {{infobox color |title=Snow |hex=FFFAFA |source=X11<ref name="CSS Color Module Level 3 W3C"/> |isccname=White}}

The web color ''snow'' is displayed at left.

The first recorded use of ''snow'' as a color name in English was in 1000.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 204</ref> [[File:Snow Scene at Shipka Pass 1.JPG|alt=Snow in Bulgaria|thumb|Snow in Bulgaria]] The color ''snow'' was included as one of the X11 colors when they were formulated in 1987.

==Ivory== {{Main|Ivory (color)}} {{color swatch|#FFFFF0|Ivory|left}} {{Infobox color |title=Ivory |hex=FFFFF0 |source=X11 |isccname=Pale yellow green}} ''Ivory'' is an off-white color that resembles ivory, the material out of which the teeth and tusks of animals (such as the elephant and the walrus) are made. It has a very slight tint of yellow.

The first recorded use of ''ivory'' as a color name in English was in 1385.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 197; Color Sample of Ivory: Page 43 Plate 10 Color Sample B12</ref> [[File:Bimbisar welcoming Buddha Roundel 30 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|alt=A carving in ivory|thumb|A carving in ivory]] The color ''ivory'' was included as one of the X11 colors when they were formulated in 1987. {{Clear}}

==Floral white== {{color swatch|#FFFAF0|Floral white|left}} {{infobox color |title=Floral white |hex=FFFAF0 |source=X11<ref name="CSS Color Module Level 3 W3C"/> |isccname=Pale yellow green}}

The web color ''floral white'' is displayed at left.

There is no evidence that this color name was in use before the X11 color names were formulated in 1987.

==Seashell== {{main|Seashell (color)}} {{color swatch|#FFF5EE|Seashell|left}}

{{Infobox color |title=Seashell |hex=FFF5EE |source=X11 |isccname=Yellowish white}}

''Seashell'' is an off-white color that resembles some of the very pale pinkish tones that are common in many seashells.

The first recorded use of ''seashell'' as a color name in English was in 1926.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 204; Color Sample of Seashell: Page 43 Plate 10 Color Sample A4</ref> [[File:Seashell unknown 2.jpg|alt=Seashell in the sand|thumb|Seashell in the sand]] In 1987, ''seashell'' was included as one of the X11 colors. {{Clear}}

==Bone white== {{color swatch|#F9F6EE|Bone white|left}}

{{Infobox color |title=Bone white |hex=F9F6EE |source=HTML Color Codes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bone White Color, Codes and Facts |url=https://htmlcolorcodes.com/colors/bone-white/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=HTML Color Codes |language=en}}</ref> |isccname=}}

''Bone white'' is a yellowish-gray shade of white which represents the color of natural, unbleached bones. {{Clear}}

==Cornsilk== {{anchor|Cornsilk}} {{color swatch|#FFF8DC|Cornsilk|left}} {{infobox color |title=Cornsilk |hex=FFF8DC |source=X11<ref name="CSS Color Module Level 3 W3C"/> |isccname=Pale yellow green}} ''Cornsilk'' is a color that is a representation of the color of cornsilk.

The first recorded use of ''cornsilk'' as a color name in English was in 1927.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 193; Color Sample of Cornsilk: Page 43 Plate 10 Color Sample G3</ref> [[File:Cornsilk 7091.jpg|alt=Cornsilk|thumb|Cornsilk]] In 1987, ''cornsilk'' was included as one of the X11 colors. {{Clear}}

==Old lace== {{anchor|Old lace}} {{color swatch|#FDF5E6|Old lace|left}} {{infobox color |title=Old lace |hex=FDF5E6 |source=X11<ref name="CSS Color Module Level 3 W3C"/> |isccname=Pale yellow green}} ''Old lace'' is a web color that is a very pale yellowish orange that resembles the color of an old lace tablecloth.

It is one of the original X11 colors.

Old lace is used as a color of a certain kind of Caucasian skin type in art. {{Clear}}

==Cream== {{Main|Cream (color)}} {{color swatch|#FFFDD0|Cream|left}} {{Infobox color |title=Cream |hex=FFFDD0 |source=X11 |isccname=Light yellow green}} ''Cream'' is a color that is a representation of the color of the cream produced from the milk of cattle.

The first recorded use of ''cream'' as a color name in English was in 1590.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 193; Color Sample of Cream: Page 41 Plate 9 Color Sample D4</ref> [[File:Strawberry ice cream dessert.jpg|alt=Strawberries with cream|thumb|Strawberries with cream]] In 1987, ''cream'' was included as one of the X11 colors. {{Clear}}

==White Chocolate== {{Main|Cream (color)}} {{color swatch|#EDE6D6|White Chocolate|left}} {{Infobox color |title=White Chocolate |hex=EDE6D6 |source=[https://encycolorpedia.com/ede6d6 Encycolorpedia] |isccname=Pale yellow}} ''White Chocolate'' is a color that is a representation of the color of white chocolate made of cocoa butter, sugar and milk. thumb {{Clear}}

==Beige== {{Main|Beige}} {{color swatch|#F5F5DC|Beige|left}} {{infobox color |title=Beige |hex=F5F5DC |source=X11 |isccname=Pale yellow green}}

The color ''beige'' is displayed at left.

The first recorded use of ''beige'' as a color name in English was in 1887.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 190; Color Sample of Beige: Page 45 Plate 11 Color Sample C2</ref>

The term originates from ''beige cloth'', a cotton fabric left undyed in its natural color. alt=A beige cat|thumb|A beige cat Items that are of ''beige'' color in real world applications are typically closer to brown than they are to white. {{Clear}}

==Parchment== {{color swatch|#F1E9D2|Parchment}} {{Infobox color |title=Parchment |hex=F1E9D2 |source=Xona.com Color List<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://xona.com/misc/colorlist/|title=Xona Games - Color List|website=xona.com}}</ref> |isccname=Pale yellow green}} Displayed at left is the color parchment. [[File:Parchment from goatskin.jpg|alt=Parchment made from goatskin|thumb|Parchment made from goatskin]] In 2001, this was made into one of the colors on the Xona.com color list. {{Clear}}

==Antique white== {{anchor|Antique white}} {{color swatch|#FAEBD7|Antique white|left}} {{infobox color |title=Antique white |hex=FAEBD7 |source=X11<ref name="CSS Color Module Level 3 W3C"/> |isccname=Pale yellow}} ''Antique white'' is a web color.

The color name ''antique white'' began to be used in 1987 when the X11 colors were first formulated. {{Clear}}

==Champagne== {{Main|Champagne (color)}} {{color swatch|#F7E7CE|Champagne|left}} {{Infobox Color |title=Champagne |hex=F7E7CE |source=Maerz and Paul |isccname=Pale yellow}}

The color ''champagne'' is displayed at left.

The color's name is derived from the typical color of the beverage champagne. [[File:Champagne.jpg|alt=A glass of champagne|thumb|A glass of champagne]] The first recorded use of ''champagne'' as a color name in English was in 1915.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 192; Color Sample of Champagne: Page 45 Plate 11 Color Sample B3 Note: The color called Champagne in the color box above (color #F7E7CE) matches the color shown as Champagne in Maerz and Paul.</ref>

==Eggshell== {{Main|Eggshell (color)}} {{color swatch|#F0EAD6|Eggshell|left}} {{infobox color |title=Eggshell |hex=F0EAD6 |source=ISCC-NBS<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121122220208/http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-e.htm ISCC-NBS]}}</ref> |isccname=Pale yellow green}}

The color ''eggshell'' is displayed at left. alt=Broken egg shells|thumb|Broken egg shells The color ''eggshell'' is a representation of the average color of chicken eggs. {{Clear}}

==Dutch white== {{color swatch|#EFDFBB|Dutch white|left}} {{infobox color |title=Dutch white |hex=EFDFBB |source=Resene<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.resene.co.nz/swatches/preview.php?chart=Resene+Crown+whites+range&brand=Resene&name=Dutch+White|title=Colour Swatch|website=Resene Swatches}}</ref> |isccname=Pale yellow}}

Displayed at left is the color ''Dutch white''.

''Dutch white'' is one of the colors on the Resene Color List, a color list popular in Australia and New Zealand. The color ''Dutch white'' was formulated in 2000.

==Bone== {{color swatch|#E3DAC9|Bone|left}} {{infobox color |title=Bone |hex=E3DAC9 |source=Kelly-Moore<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kellymoore.autech.com.au/kellymoore/colorcenter/|title=Kelly-Moore Paints: Color Center|website=kellymoore.autech.com.au}}</ref> |isccname=Yellowish gray}}

The color ''bone'' is displayed at left. This color is a representation of the color of bones.

The first recorded use of ''bone'' as a color name in English was in the first decade of the 19th century (exact year uncertain).<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 190</ref> alt=Cranial bones|thumb|Cranial bones {{Clear}}

==Vanilla== {{Main|Vanilla (color)}} {{color swatch|#F3E5AB|Vanilla|left}} {{infobox color |title=Vanilla |hex=F3E5AB |source=ISCC-NBS<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121122220208/http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-v.htm ISCC-NBS]}}</ref> |isccname=Pale greenish yellow}}

The color ''vanilla'' is a rich tint of off-white as well as a medium pale tint of yellow. [[File:Vanilla1web.jpg|alt=Vanilla orchid|thumb|Vanilla orchid]] [[File:Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream (6020447714).jpg|alt=Vanilla ice cream|thumb|Vanilla ice cream]] The first recorded use of ''vanilla'' as a color name in English was in 1925.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 206; Color Sample of Vanilla: Page 43 Plate 10 Color Sample C3</ref> {{Clear}}

==Flax== {{Main|Flax (color)}} {{color swatch|#EEDC82|Flax|left}} {{infobox color |title=Flax |hex=EEDC82 |source=Maerz and Paul<ref>The color displayed in the color box above matches the color called ''flax'' in the 1930 book by Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill; the color ''flax'' is displayed on page 47, Plate 12, Color Sample B2.</ref> |isccname=Light greenish yellow}}

The color ''flax'' is displayed at left. [[File:Flax (Linum usitassimum).jpg|alt=A patch of flax in Poland|thumb|A patch of flax in Poland]] The first recorded use of ''flax'' as a color name in English was in 1915.<ref>Maerz and Paul ''A Dictionary of Color'' New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 195; Color Sample of Flax: Page 47 Plate 12 Color Sample B2</ref>

==Navajo white== {{Main|Navajo white}} {{color swatch|#FFDEAD|Navajo white|left}} {{Infobox color |title=Navajo white |hex=FFDEAD |source=X11<ref name="CSS Color Module Level 3 W3C"/> |isccname=Pale yellow}}

''Navajo white'' is a whitish orange color, and derives its name from the Navajo Nation ethnic flag, a flag that uses this color. In 1987, ''Navajo white'' was included as one of the X11 colors.

==Alabaster== {{color swatch|#EDEAE0|Alabaster|left}} Displayed at left is the color '''alabaster'''. It represents the whitish color of the mineral alabaster.{{Infobox color |title=Alabaster |hex=EDEAE0 |isccname=Pale yellow green}} [[File:Alabaster.jpg|alt=A slab of alabaster|thumb|A slab of alabaster]]

Alabaster has been used as a color in English since 1594 (in Shakespeare's ''The Rape of Lucrece''), but the origin of the RGB coordinates is not known. {{Clear}}

==Linen== {{color swatch|#FAF0E6|Linen|left}} An X11 color, representing the whitish color of the linen cloth. {{Infobox color |title=Linen |hex=FAF0E6 |source=X11}} alt=Linen handkerchief|thumb|Linen handkerchief

==See also== * Beige * Lists of colors * Shades of black * Shades of gray

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Shades of white