Ghost Writer as a scale

Eleven steps from #bcb7ad, built by moving lightness in OKLCh and keeping the hue where it is. Every step is gamut-mapped by giving up chroma, never by clipping channels — clipping is what turns a light blue purple.

StopHexOKLCh LChromaOn whiteOn blackAPCA on whiteΔE00 from the step above
50#faf5ea97.0%0.0151.09:119.25:10—
100#efeadf93.8%0.0151.20:117.50:1102.2
200#dad5cb87.4%0.0151.46:114.35:1224.7
300#c5c0b681.0%0.0151.81:111.63:1345.0
400#b1aca274.6%0.0152.26:19.30:1455.5
500#9d988f68.2%0.0152.86:17.34:1556.0
600#8a857c61.8%0.0153.67:15.72:1646.6
700#77726955.4%0.0154.77:14.40:1737.3
800#64605749.0%0.0156.26:13.35:1817.0
900#3c372f34.0%0.01511.76:11.79:19713.8
950#15110a18.0%0.01518.81:11.12:110512.0

What is true of this ramp

  • 10 of the 10 adjacent pairs differ by ΔE00 2 or more. Every step here is a step a reader can see.
  • The tightest pair is 50 to100, at ΔE00 2.2.
  • No step had to give up chroma: sRGB has room for this hue at every lightness in the ramp.
  • 4 steps clear 4.5:1 on white (700, 800, 900, 950), and 7 on black (50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600).

Harmonies from Ghost Writer

complement

the hue directly opposite, at the same lightness. #b3b8c2 (+180°)

analogous

the two neighbours 30° either side. #c0b5af (+-30°), #b7b9ae (+30°)

split complement

the two hues either side of the opposite, 30° apart from it. #afb9c0 (+150°), #b8b6c0 (+210°)

triad

the circle divided in three. #adbbbc (+120°), #bdb4bd (+240°)

tetrad

the circle divided in four. #aebbb7 (+90°), #b3b8c2 (+180°), #c0b4b8 (+270°)

The ramp as CSS

:root {
  --ghost-writer-50: #faf5ea;
  --ghost-writer-100: #efeadf;
  --ghost-writer-200: #dad5cb;
  --ghost-writer-300: #c5c0b6;
  --ghost-writer-400: #b1aca2;
  --ghost-writer-500: #9d988f;
  --ghost-writer-600: #8a857c;
  --ghost-writer-700: #777269;
  --ghost-writer-800: #646057;
  --ghost-writer-900: #3c372f;
  --ghost-writer-950: #15110a;
}

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