Shades of white
Encyclopedia
Shades of white are color
s that differ only slightly from pure white. Variations of white include what are commonly termed off-white colors, which may be considered part of a neutral color scheme, pervasively paired with beige
s in the 1930s, and especially popular again from roughly 1955 to 1975. Over-reliance on grays, beiges, and off-whites as a color scheme for interior decoration has been described as a simplistic choice made by amateur decorators with poor color vocabularies.
Colors often considered "shades of white" may include, among others, 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.
, the perception of which is evoked by light
that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in equal amounts and with high brightness
compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue
and grayness. White is the lightest possible color.
associated with what it is imagined the color of a ghost
might be.
There is no evidence that this color name was in use before the X11 color names were formulated in 1987.
The first recorded use of snow as a color name in English was in 1000.
The color "snow" was included as one of the X11 colors
when they were formulated in 1987.
In the drug culture, "snow" is a slang
term for cocaine
.
The color's name is derived from the typical color of the beverage champagne.
The first recorded use of champagne as a color name in English
was in 1915.
eggshell is displayed at right.
The color eggshell is a representation of the average color of chicken eggs, including both white ones and brown ones.
s.
The first recorded use of bone as a color name in English was in the first decade of the 19th century
, i.e., between 1800 and 1810 (exact year uncertain).
"Bone" colored paint is often used by landlord
s to paint vacant apartments that are for rent since it hides dirt and stains better than white
.
of off-white
as well as a medium pale tint of yellow
.
The first recorded use of vanilla as a color name in English
was in 1925.
ethnic flag
.
In 1987, Navajo white was included as one of the X11 colors.
or a light greyish-yellowish brown. It is often used to describe such fabrics as silk
and linen
in their unbleached state. Ecru comes from the French
word écru, which means literally 'raw' or 'unbleached'.
Color
Color or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
s that differ only slightly from pure white. Variations of white include what are commonly termed off-white colors, which may be considered part of a neutral color scheme, pervasively paired with beige
Beige
Beige may be described as an off tan color or an extremely pale brown color.The term originates from beige cloth, a cotton fabric left undyed in its natural color...
s in the 1930s, and especially popular again from roughly 1955 to 1975. Over-reliance on grays, beiges, and off-whites as a color scheme for interior decoration has been described as a simplistic choice made by amateur decorators with poor color vocabularies.
Colors often considered "shades of white" may include, among others, cream, eggshell, ivory
Ivory (color)
Ivory is an off-white color that resembles ivory, the material out of which the teeth and tusks of animals is made. It has a very slight tint of yellow....
, navajo white
Navajo white
Navajo White is an orangish white color, and derives its name from its similarity to the background color of the Navajo Nation flag. The name "Navajo White" is usually only used when referring to paint...
, and vanilla
Vanilla (color)
The color vanilla is a rich tint of off-white as well as a medium pale tint of yellow.The first recorded use of vanilla as a color name in English was in 1925.The source of this color is: ....
. Even the lighting of a room, however, can cause a pure white to be perceived as off-white.
White
White is a colorColor
Color or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
, the perception of which is evoked by light
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in equal amounts and with high brightness
Brightness
Brightness is an attribute of visual perception in which a source appears to be radiating or reflecting light. In other words, brightness is the perception elicited by the luminance of a visual target...
compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue
Hue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
and grayness. White is the lightest possible color.
Ghost white
The web color ghost white is a tint of whiteWhite
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
associated with what it is imagined the color of a ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
might be.
There is no evidence that this color name was in use before the X11 color names were formulated in 1987.
Snow
The web color snow is displayed at right.The first recorded use of snow as a color name in English was in 1000.
The color "snow" was included as one of the X11 colors
X11 color names
In computing, on the X Window System, X11 color names are represented in a simple text file, which maps certain strings to RGB color values. It is shipped with every X11 installation, hence the name, and is usually located in <X11root>/lib/X11/rgb.txt.It is not known who originally compiled...
when they were formulated in 1987.
In the drug culture, "snow" is a slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term for cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
.
Ivory
The color champagne is displayed at right.The color's name is derived from the typical color of the beverage champagne.
The first recorded use of champagne as a color name in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
was in 1915.
Eggshell
The colorColor
Color or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
eggshell is displayed at right.
The color eggshell is a representation of the average color of chicken eggs, including both white ones and brown ones.
Bone
The color bone is displayed at right. This color is a representation of the color of boneBone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
s.
The first recorded use of bone as a color name in English was in the first decade of the 19th century
19th century
The 19th century was a period in history marked by the collapse of the Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Holy Roman and Mughal empires...
, i.e., between 1800 and 1810 (exact year uncertain).
"Bone" colored paint is often used by landlord
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
s to paint vacant apartments that are for rent since it hides dirt and stains better than white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
.
Vanilla
The color vanilla is a rich tintTint
In color theory, a tint is the mixture of a color with white.Tint may also refer to:* Tint control, an adjustment to correct for phase error in the picture color on a NTSC television set* Tint , an album by Merzbow...
of off-white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
as well as a medium pale tint of yellow
Yellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
.
The first recorded use of vanilla as a color name in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
was in 1925.
Navajo white
Navajo White is an orangish white color, and derives its name from its similarity to the background color of the Navajo NationNavajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
ethnic flag
Ethnic flag
An ethnic flag is a flag that symbolizes a certain ethnic group. Ethnic flags are often introduced to the ethnic community through the respective cultural or political ethnic movements...
.
In 1987, Navajo white was included as one of the X11 colors.
Ecru
Ecru describes the shade greyish-pale yellowYellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
or a light greyish-yellowish brown. It is often used to describe such fabrics as silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
in their unbleached state. Ecru comes from the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
word écru, which means literally 'raw' or 'unbleached'.