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Intellectual Gray SW 7045
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Noticeable yellow undertone
In CIELAB, Intellectual Gray sits at L* 66.2, a* 0.6, b* 7.8. Its hue angle is 86° and its chroma is 7.8, so it leans yellow clearly enough to notice on a full wall. It classifies as warm. Among Sherwin-Williams colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 40%.
LRV 35.7: mid-tone
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 35.7, Intellectual Gray is lighter than 45% of Sherwin-Williams colors. Reads clearly as a color. Best in rooms with good natural light, or as an accent wall; small dark rooms may feel smaller.
Closest Benjamin Moore match to Intellectual Gray
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Reflections | 1552 | 0.65 | Practically identical | |
| Rockport Gray | HC-105 | 1.17 | Very close | |
| Quicksand | CSP-200 | 1.69 | Very close |
Closest Behr match to Intellectual Gray
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackal | T12-12 | 0.53 | Practically identical | |
| True Taupewood | PPU24-09 | 0.95 | Practically identical | |
| Quail Ridge | ECC-18-1 | 1.30 | Very close |
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fawn Brindle | SW 7640 | 0.56 | Practically identical | |
| Western Reserve | SW 9597 | 1.37 | Very close | |
| Smooth Stone | SW 9568 | 1.53 | Very close | |
| Mega Greige | SW 7031 | 1.75 | Very close | |
| Pewter Tankard | SW 0023 | 1.77 | Very close | |
| Morris Room Grey | SW 0037 | 2.00 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Sherwin-Williams with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Quest Gray SW 7080 · lighter, LRV 38.5
- Hibernate SW 9573 · lighter, LRV 38.5
- Gray Area SW 7052 · lighter, LRV 38.6
- Herbal Wash SW 7739 · darker, LRV 32.8
- Acacia Haze SW 9132 · darker, LRV 32.2
- Pavestone SW 7642 · darker, LRV 32.3
Colors that go with Intellectual Gray
Sherwin-Williams's own coordinating colors for Intellectual Gray:
- Worldly Gray SW 7043
- Spiced Cider SW 7702
- Shoji White SW 7042
Color-theory pairings — the nearest Sherwin-Williams color to each rotated hue, keeping the same lightness and saturation:
- Solitude SW 6535 · complementary (180°)
- Truly Taupe SW 6038 · analogous (−30°)
- Frosted Fern SW 9648 · analogous (+30°)
- Delft SW 9134 · triadic (120°)
- Ash Violet SW 6549 · triadic (240°)
Intellectual Gray vs popular colors
- Functional Gray (Sherwin-Williams SW 7024, ΔE 2.2) is about as light, more blue/cool.
- Dorian Gray (Sherwin-Williams SW 7017, ΔE 2.8) is lighter (LRV 38.7 vs 35.7), more blue/cool, more muted.
- Sea Gull Gray (Benjamin Moore ES-72, ΔE 3.4) is lighter (LRV 40.2 vs 35.7), more green.