Slate gray explained

Slate gray is a moderate shade of gray with a slight azure tinge, which represents the average color of slate, a metamorphic rock often used in stonemasonry. As a tertiary color, slate is an equal mix of purple and green pigments.^{[1] [2]}

Slaty, referring to this color, is often used to describe birds.

The first recorded use of slate gray as a color name in English was in 1705.^[3] __TOC__

Variations

Light slate gray

Displayed at right is the web color light slate gray.^[4]

Dark slate gray

Displayed at right is the web color dark slate gray.^[5]

In human culture

Computers

• The exterior shells of supercomputers are often colored various shades of slate gray.
• The iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini comes in a dark slate gray colored aluminum body contrasted with black.
• Western Electric used the term SLATE for the color instead of gray in their 25-pair (and multiples) cable for pairs 5-10-15-20-25.

Transportation

• The S New York City Subway service bullet, used in three out of the system's services, is colored slate gray.

Military

• The Fleet Air Arm aircraft Temperate Day Scheme in the World War Two was dark slate gray over extra dark sea gray on top sides and Sky on undersides. This scheme was referred as "slime over sludge".

See also

• Shades of gray
  • Cadet gray

Notes and References

1. William J. Miskella, 1928, Practical Color Simplified: A Handbook on Lacquering, Enameling, Coloring And Painting, pp.
2. John Lemos, 1920, "Color Charts for the School Room", in School Arts, vol. 19, pp. 580–584.
3. Maerz and Paul. A Dictionary of Color. New York: 1930. McGraw-Hill. Page 204; Color Sample of Slate Gray: Page 51, Plate 14, Color Sample A2.
4. Web site: Light slate gray. ColorHexa.com. 14 January 2014. 5 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240105162342/https://www.colorhexa.com/778899. live.
5. Web site: Dark slate gray. ColorHexa.com.