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Basic Blue CC-968
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Saturated purple (a color, not a neutral)
In CIELAB, Basic Blue sits at L* 31.3, a* 14.0, b* -32.6. Its hue angle is 293° and its chroma is 35.5, so it reads as an outright purple rather than a neutral. It classifies as cool. Among Benjamin Moore colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 2%.
LRV 8.4: very dark
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 8.4, Basic Blue is lighter than 4% of Benjamin Moore colors. Near-black depth. Use on doors, trim, cabinetry, exteriors or moody rooms with strong artificial lighting.
Closest Sherwin-Williams match to Basic Blue
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valiant Violet | SW 6818 | 2.49 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Morning Glory | SW 6971 | 3.07 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Fully Purple | SW 6983 | 4.54 | Similar, clearly different |
Closest Behr match to Basic Blue
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color. Behr does not publish LRV, so Behr values here are estimates.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expressionism | MQ5-49 | 2.70 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Boudoir Blue | MQ5-48 | 2.71 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Tanzanite | P530-7 | 2.74 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starry Night Blue | 2067-20 | 2.59 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Scandinavian Blue | 2068-30 | 3.95 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Wizard | CC-966 | 3.97 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Grape Gum | 2068-20 | 4.33 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Blue Grotto | CC-964 | 5.46 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Southern Belle | 819 | 5.57 | Similar, clearly different |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Benjamin Moore with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Blueberry Hill 812 · lighter, LRV 9.8
- Scandinavian Blue 2068-30 · lighter, LRV 11.7
- Blue Suede Shoes 798 · lighter, LRV 11.5
- Starry Night Blue 2067-20 · darker, LRV 7.5
- Grape Gum 2068-20 · darker, LRV 7.2
- Blue Grotto CC-964 · darker, LRV 6.2
Colors that go with Basic Blue
Color-theory pairings — the nearest Benjamin Moore color to each rotated hue, keeping the same lightness and saturation:
- Windsor Green CW-505 · complementary (180°)
- California Blue 2060-20 · analogous (−30°)
- Gentle Violet 2071-20 · analogous (+30°)
- Cimarron 2093-10 · triadic (120°)
- Calypso Green 2046-10 · triadic (240°)
Basic Blue vs popular colors
- Van Deusen Blue (Benjamin Moore HC-156, ΔE 11.5) is lighter (LRV 12.0 vs 8.4), more yellow/warm, more green, more muted.
- Gentleman's Gray (Benjamin Moore 2062-20, ΔE 11.7) is about as light, more yellow/warm, more green, more muted.
- Naval (Sherwin-Williams SW 6244, ΔE 11.9) is darker (LRV 4.5 vs 8.4), more yellow/warm, more green, more muted.