#CBCBCBSilverback (#CBCBCB) is a grey neutral with an OKLCH hue of 90°, lightness 0.84 and chroma 0. In practice it behaves as a mid-weight working color for secondary surfaces and editorial blocks.
| HEX | #CBCBCB |
|---|---|
| RGB | rgb(203, 203, 203) |
| HSL | hsl(0, 0%, 80%) |
| HSV | hsv(0, 0%, 80%) |
| CMYK | cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 20%) |
| CIE Lab | lab(81.7 0 0) |
| OKLCH | oklch(0.842 0.000 90) |
Under warm 2700K interior light Silverback shifts subtly: takes on a orange cast, gains intensity; in north-facing or shaded light it is virtually unchanged. Overall drift across common illuminants is small (max ΔE ≈ 2), so it is a lighting-stable choice.
#d3c6be — ΔE 2.0, shifts subtly: takes on a orange cast, gains intensity#d2ccc7 — ΔE 1.2, shifts only faintly, with no single dominant change#cbcbcb — ΔE 0.0, is virtually unchanged#cbccce — ΔE 0.4, is virtually unchangedTest Silverback in the color lighting simulator — sweep it through daylight, warm 2700K light, 4000K LED, and shade alongside the rest of your palette.
Against white it measures 1.62:1 and against black 12.94:1, so black text is the stronger pairing. That pairing passes WCAG AA for body text. Avoid white text on this color entirely.
One color explored: close hues with real lightness and chroma structure, so the palette is the anchor through value rather than a set of colors.
#f2f2f2 · #cbcbcb · #a2a2a2 · #7c7c7c · #595959 · #383838
The anchor's neighbours on the wheel — everything shares an undertone, so the chord carries color without anything having to be muted to get along.
#e3e2b5 · #cbcbcb · #d4b285 · #c69b7c · #b58775 · #a1746f
The mid-gap pairing — sage and mustard, terracotta and olive. A foil rotated 40–65° toward warm or cool: too far to be kin, too near to argue, carried by temperature and a deliberate value offset.
#cbcbcb · #9fb29c · #9c8b5f · #567a51 · #60522a · #2c3e2a
One deliberately opposed voice — a single restrained counterpoint across the wheel, or temperature against temperature where the anchor is too muted to carry a loud opposite.
#f5efdf · #cbcbcb · #b2a88b · #90866d · #495784 · #312b1d
The anchor as the only color in the room. True neutrals or complement-warmed near-neutrals let it stay dominant.
#cbcbcb · #acaeb5 · #7d7a70 · #47494e · #211d14 · #010102
This color as a ground rather than a subject — its own restraint held across a narrow value band, carrying one saturated voice from the opposite temperature.
#f2f2f2 · #cbcbcb · #9c9c9c · #222222 · #030303 · #e7c04d
The opposite hue on the perceptual wheel, tempered to field strength — warm/cool tension without vibration.
#cbcbcb · #a9aebd · #6c799e · #394772 · #121b3b · #0b0500
The complement's two neighbours instead of the complement itself — strong contrast with a lower clash risk.
#cbcbcb · #a9aebd · #597f9a · #503f6c · #002035 · #020006
Three hues spaced evenly around the wheel; the anchor leads and the other two are held at supporting strength.
#cbcbcb · #9fb3b6 · #4d848e · #603a5d · #2e112c · #000305
Two complementary pairs offset by 90° — the richest chord, kept usable by a strict lightness hierarchy.
#cbcbcb · #a0b4af · #50867b · #394772 · #340e1c · #000008
#d4d4d4 · #dcdcdc · #e5e5e5 · #eeeeee · #f6f6f6
#a9a9a9 · #878787 · #666666 · #444444 · #222222
Its moderate chroma lets it work in mid-size areas — upholstery, secondary UI surfaces, editorial blocks — without overwhelming neighbors.