Universal Color Language, Level 3 Color Names

This page shows color swatches defined by hexadecimal code and named according to the Universal Color Language (UCL) described in COLOR Universal Language and Dictionary of Names (listed in Links). Specifically, this page shows colors named according to the UCL Level 3, where color descriptions consist of 267 color blocks named by a method devised by the Inter-Society Color Council (ISCC) and the the United States Department of Commerce's National Bureau of Standards (NBS) (now called the National Institute of Standards and Technology). This method is called the ISCC-NBS Method of Designating Colors.

The ISCC-NBS Method identifies 267 blocks of colors. Each block is given a color name devised using a set of adjectives and suffixes. Each color block defines a range of colors--not a single color--that have the same name. This range of color in each block is an acknowledged disadvantage, but it is pointed out (COLOR, p. 4) that a set of 267 color names is analogous to calendar dates for chronological events. This method is suitable for "a variety of scientific and industrial applications" (COLOR, p. A-13). The UCL at levels above 3 defines finer divisions of colors with no names, rising to approximately five million divisions in UCL Level 6. COLOR also lists color names from various sources for each UCL Level 3 color block (pp. 37-82) and a Dictionary of Color Names which lists thousands of color names and their corresponding UCL Level 3 block(s) (pp. 85-158).

The color blocks of the UCL Level 3 are defined using the Munsell System of color which describes the hue, value, and chroma of colors. I prepared this page using Munsell Renotation Data from the Munsell Color Science Laboratory, Rochester Institute of Technology. This data was converted to hexadecimal using formulas given by Easy RGB, and the colors were named according to COLOR, pp. 16-31. Up to 6 swatches per color name were chosen to represent the range of colors in each block. Where fewer than 6 colors are shown, fewer than 6 samples of color were available in that block range in the data.

The block number is given for each of the 267 UCL Level 3 color names. Color swatches are defined by using the hexadecimal code for the color. The swatch shows the Munsell notation for the color in the form Hue Value/Chroma above the hexadecimal code. I was not able to find samples of color for Munsell chroma values under 2, so these color blocks have "No samples available." Remember: each of these 267 color names do not each identify a single color, but a range of colors.

1 vivid pink	2.5R 7/12 #FF8395   10RP 7/12 #FF83A3   2.5R 7/14 #FF7890   10RP 7/14 #FF78A0   2.5R 7/16 #FF6B8B   10RP 7/16 #FF6B9E
2 strong pink	10RP 7/8 #F095A9   10RP 7/10 #FD8DA6   10RP 8/8 #FFAEC3   10RP 8/10 #FFA6C0
3 deep pink	5R 6/8 #D67B7E   2.5R 6/10 #E27281   10RP 6/10 #E0728C   10RP 6/12 #EC698A   10RP 6/14 #F85F88
4 light pink	2.5R 9/4 #FFD7E3   5R 9/4 #FFD7DE   10RP 9/4 #FFD7E7   2.5R 9/6 #FFCFDB   5R 9/6 #FFD0D4   10RP 9/6 #FFD0E2
5 moderate pink	2.5R 7/4 #D3A2AC   5R 7/4 #D4A2A8   10RP 7/4 #D1A3B0   2.5R 7/6 #E39CA6   5R 7/6 #E49CA0   10RP 7/6 #E19CAD
6 dark pink	2.5R 6/6 #C7818B   5R 6/6 #C98185   10RP 6/6 #C68192
7 pale pink	2.5R 9/2 #F6DFEB   5R 9/2 #F8DEE9   10RP 9/2 #F6DFEC
8 grayish pink	2.5R 7/2 #C2A8B2   5R 7/2 #C3A8B0   10RP 7/2 #C1A8B4
9 pinkish white	No samples available.
10 pinkish gray	No samples available.
11 vivid red	7.5R 2/14 #810014   7.5R 3/14 #A00011   7.5R 4/14 #BD1F24   7.5R 4/20 #D90000   5R 5/18 #F40141   5R 6/18 #FF4159
12 strong red	2.5R 4/12 #B32B4D   5R 4/12 #B32E3D   2.5R 5/12 #D34A64   5R 5/12 #D44B54
13 deep red	2.5R 3/10 #8D153A   5R 3/10 #8D172D   7.5R 3/10 #8C1B20
14 very deep red	2.5R 1/8 #460024   5R 1/8 #48001D   7.5R 1/8 #490016   2.5R 1/10 #4D0026   5R 1/10 #4F001E   7.5R 1/10 #500016
15 moderate red	5R 4/8 #9E4449   5R 4/10 #A93A43   5R 5/8 #BB5F63   5R 5/10 #C7565C
16 dark red	2.5R 3/4 #6A3A43   5R 3/4 #6B3A3E   2.5R 3/6 #763240   5R 3/6 #763238   2.5R 3/8 #82263C   5R 3/8 #822832
17 very dark red	2.5R 1/4 #360D20   5R 1/4 #370D1C   2.5R 1/6 #3E0222   5R 1/6 #40011C
18 light grayish red	2.5R 6/2 #A88E96   5R 6/2 #A88E95   7.5R 6/2 #A98E92   10R 6/2 #AA8E8F   2.5R 6/4 #B88891   5R 6/4 #B9888D
19 grayish red	7.5R 4/2 #755A5C   7.5R 4/4 #855353   7.5R 4/6 #924D4A   7.5R 5/2 #8E7478   5R 5/4 #9F6E72   5R 5/6 #AD676A
20 dark grayish red	2.5R 3/2 #5C4147   5R 3/2 #5D4145

21 blackish red	No samples available.
22 reddish gray	No samples available.
23 dark reddish gray	No samples available.
24 reddish black	No samples available.
25 vivid yellowish pink	7.5R 7/12 #FF8576   5R 7/14 #FF7980   10R 7/14 #FF814E   10R 7/16 #FF7937
26 strong yellowish pink	7.5R 7/8 #F5958D   5R 7/10 #FF8D90   10R 7/10 #FF9072   7.5R 8/8 #FFAFA5   5R 8/10 #FFA6A8   10R 8/10 #FFAA8A
27 deep yellowish pink	5R 6/12 #F0696F   5R 6/14 #FC5F68
28 light yellowish pink	2.5YR 9/4 #FFD8CB   5YR 9/4 #FFDAC4   7.5R 9/4 #FFD7D8   10R 9/4 #FFD7D2   7.5R 9/6 #FFD0CA   10R 9/6 #FFD1C1
29 moderate yellowish pink	2.5YR 7/4 #D5A498   5YR 7/4 #D3A592
30 dark yellowish pink	7.5R 6/6 #C9827E
31 pale yellowish pink	2.5YR 9/2 #FBDEE0   7.5R 9/2 #F9DEE6   7.5YR 9/2 #FBDFD7   10R 9/2 #FADEE4
32 grayish yellowish pink	2.5YR 7/2 #C4A8A8   7.5R 7/2 #C4A8AE   10R 7/2 #C4A8AB
33 brownish pink	7.5YR 7/2 #C3AAA1
34 vivid reddish orange	7.5R 5/14 #DD423A   10R 5/16 #E04200   7.5R 5/20 #FA0014   7.5R 6/16 #FF5645   10R 6/18 #FF5600
35 strong reddish orange	7.5R 5/12 #D34D44   10R 5/12 #D0522C   7.5R 6/12 #F06B5E   10R 6/12 #EE6E47
36 deep reddish orange	7.5R 4/12 #B3302E   10R 4/12 #AF3615
37 moderate reddish orange	10R 5/8 #BA624D   10R 5/10 #C55A3D   10R 6/8 #D67D68   10R 6/10 #E27658
38 dark reddish orange	7.5R 4/8 #9E4540   10R 4/8 #9D4735   7.5R 4/10 #A93C37   10R 4/10 #A73F27
39 grayish reddish orange	2.5YR 5/6 #AB6A53   10R 5/6 #AD685B   2.5YR 6/6 #C7846D   10R 6/6 #C88375
40 strong reddish brown	10R 3/8 #802C20   10R 3/10 #8A2013   10R 3/12 #930C00   10R 3/14 #9C0000
41 deep reddish brown	10R 1/6 #410110   10R 1/10 #51000B   10R 2/6 #581D1C   10R 2/10 #6C000C   10R 2/14 #800000
42 light reddish brown	2.5YR 5/4 #9E6F63   10R 5/4 #9F6E68   2.5YR 6/4 #B9897D   10R 6/4 #BB8882
43 moderate reddish brown	7.5R 3/4 #6B3A3A   7.5R 3/6 #763332   2.5YR 4/4 #845548   10R 4/6 #914E42
44 dark reddish brown	7.5R 1/2 #2E151A   2.5YR 1/4 #380E0B   10R 1/4 #380D13   7.5R 2/4 #4F2428
45 light grayish reddish brown	2.5YR 5/2 #8F7472   2.5YR 6/2 #AA8E8C
46 grayish reddish brown	2.5YR 3/2 #5C423E   7.5R 3/2 #5D4142   10R 3/2 #5C4140   2.5YR 4/2 #755A57   10R 4/2 #765A5A
47 dark grayish reddish brown	2.5YR 2/2 #422B29   7.5R 2/2 #432B2E   10R 2/2 #422B2B
48 vivid orange	2.5YR 6/16 #F56B00   2.5YR 6/18 #FA6700   2.5YR 7/16 #FF8403   2.5YR 7/18 #FF8000   2.5YR 7/20 #FF7D00
49 brilliant orange	2.5YR 8/12 #FFA865   5YR 8/12 #FFAF54
50 strong orange	2.5YR 6/12 #E87434   5YR 6/12 #DF7B1D   2.5YR 7/12 #FF8E4E   5YR 7/12 #FF943A
51 deep orange	2.5YR 5/12 #C85A15   5YR 5/12 #BF6100
52 light orange	2.5YR 8/8 #FFB38D   5YR 8/8 #FFB781
53 moderate orange	2.5YR 6/8 #D37F5D   5YR 6/8 #CF8250   2.5YR 7/8 #F19976   5YR 7/8 #EB9D6B
54 brownish orange	2.5YR 5/8 #B76441   5YR 5/8 #B26836
55 strong brown	7.5YR 3/6 #6A3D14   7.5YR 3/8 #703A00   5YR 4/6 #8B5332   5YR 4/8 #934F1F   5YR 4/10 #9A4B00   5YR 4/12 #9F4800
56 deep brown	2.5YR 1/6 #400304   2.5YR 1/8 #490000   2.5YR 2/6 #571F13   5YR 2/6 #542304   7.5YR 2/6 #502600   2.5YR 2/8 #601601
57 light brown	5YR 5/4 #9C715D   7.5YR 5/4 #9A7259   5YR 6/4 #B78B78   7.5YR 6/4 #B58C73
58 moderate brown	5YR 3/4 #653E2D   7.5YR 3/4 #634029   5YR 4/4 #825743   7.5YR 4/4 #7F583E
59 dark brown	5YR 1/2 #2C1711   7.5YR 1/2 #2B180E   5YR 1/4 #371001   5YR 2/4 #4B2819   7.5YR 2/4 #482A13
60 light grayish brown	7.5YR 5/2 #8D766D   7.5YR 6/2 #A88F87

61 grayish brown	7.5YR 3/2 #59433A   7.5YR 4/2 #735C52
62 dark grayish brown	5YR 2/2 #412C27   7.5YR 2/2 #3F2D25
63 light brownish gray	No samples available.
64 brownish gray	No samples available.
65 brownish black	No samples available.
66 vivid orange yellow	7.5YR 7/16 #FE9700   7.5YR 7/18 #FF9500   7.5YR 8/16 #FFB000   7.5YR 8/18 #FFAF00   7.5YR 8/20 #FFAE00
67 brilliant orange yellow	No samples available.
68 strong orange yellow	7.5YR 7/12 #F59A26   10YR 7/12 #EBA004
69 deep orange yellow	7.5YR 6/12 #D68000   10YR 6/12 #CC8600
70 light orange yellow	7.5YR 9/8 #FFD68F   10YR 9/8 #FFDA86
71 moderate orange yellow	7.5YR 7/8 #E6A061   10YR 7/8 #DFA456
72 dark orange yellow	7.5YR 6/8 #C98646   10YR 6/8 #C2893B
73 pale orange yellow	7.5YR 8/4 #ECC1A6   10YR 8/4 #E8C3A1   7.5YR 9/4 #FFDCBE   10YR 9/4 #FFDEB9
74 strong yellowish brown	10YR 4/8 #875602   10YR 5/6 #9F713B   10YR 5/8 #A56F20   10YR 5/10 #AA6E00   10YR 5/12 #AC6D00
75 deep yellowish brown	10YR 3/6 #65400B   10YR 3/8 #6A3E00
76 light yellowish brown	10YR 6/4 #B18E6D   7.5YR 7/4 #D1A68D   10YR 7/4 #CDA887
77 moderate yellowish brown	10YR 4/4 #7B5A3A   10YR 5/4 #967454
78 dark yellowish brown	10YR 1/2 #29190A   10YR 2/4 #462B0E   10YR 3/4 #5F4225
79 light grayish yellowish brown	No samples available.
80 grayish yellowish brown	10YR 4/2 #715D4F   10YR 5/2 #8B766A
81 dark grayish yellowish brown	10YR 2/2 #3D2E23   10YR 3/2 #564438
82 vivid yellow	5Y 6/14 #B89000   5Y 7/14 #D6AA00   5Y 8/12 #F0C600   5Y 8/16 #F4C500   2.5Y 9/12 #FFDB3F   5Y 9/18 #FFE100
83 brilliant yellow	2.5Y 9/10 #FFDC62   5Y 9/10 #FFE259
84 strong yellow	2.5Y 7/10 #DCA62B   5Y 7/10 #D1AB1C
85 deep yellow	2.5Y 6/10 #BF8C00   5Y 6/10 #B59100
86 light yellow	2.5Y 9/6 #FFDF9A   5Y 9/6 #FFE395
87 moderate yellow	2.5Y 7/6 #D0A969   5Y 7/6 #C8AC64
88 dark yellow	2.5Y 6/6 #B48F4F   5Y 6/6 #AD924A
89 pale yellow	2.5Y 9/4 #FFE1B5   5Y 9/4 #F9E3B2
90 grayish yellow	2.5Y 7/4 #C8AA83   5Y 7/4 #C2AD80
91 dark grayish yellow	2.5Y 6/4 #AC9069   5Y 6/4 #A79266
92 yellowish white	No samples available.
93 yellowish gray	No samples available.
94 light olive brown	2.5Y 5/2 #897868   2.5Y 5/4 #917650   2.5Y 5/6 #997534   2.5Y 5/8 #9E7315   2.5Y 5/10 #A17200   2.5Y 5/12 #A37200
95 moderate olive brown	2.5Y 3/4 #5B4422   2.5Y 4/2 #6E5E4E   2.5Y 4/6 #7C5B1E   2.5Y 4/10 #835900
96 dark olive brown	2.5Y 1/2 #261A08   2.5Y 2/2 #3B2F22   2.5Y 2/4 #422D09
97 vivid greenish yellow	7.5Y 7/12 #C9AF00   10Y 7/16 #BFB300   7.5Y 8/16 #E8CA00   10Y 9/12 #F8E91F   7.5Y 9/18 #FFE600
98 brilliant greenish yellow	7.5Y 9/10 #FFE555   10Y 9/10 #F6E853
99 strong greenish yellow	7.5Y 7/10 #C7AF13   10Y 7/10 #BEB20D
100 deep greenish yellow	7.5Y 6/10 #AB9400   10Y 6/10 #A29700
101 light greenish yellow	7.5Y 9/6 #F9E594   10Y 9/6 #F3E794
102 moderate greenish yellow	7.5Y 7/6 #C1AF63   10Y 7/6 #BBB163
103 dark greenish yellow	7.5Y 6/6 #A69448   10Y 6/6 #9F9649
104 pale greenish yellow	7.5Y 9/4 #F5E4B1   10Y 9/4 #F1E6B0
105 grayish greenish yellow	7.5Y 7/4 #BDAE7F   10Y 7/4 #B9B07F
106 light olive	10Y 5/4 #827C4C   10Y 5/6 #847C2F   10Y 5/8 #857D00   10Y 5/10 #867D00   10Y 5/12 #867D00
107 moderate olive	10Y 3/4 #4E4920   10Y 3/6 #4F4900   10Y 4/4 #686234   10Y 4/6 #696216   10Y 4/8 #6A6300
108 dark olive	5Y 1/2 #241B08   7.5Y 1/2 #221C0A   10Y 1/2 #1F1D0D   5Y 2/4 #3E2F05   7.5Y 2/4 #3A3004   10Y 2/4 #363207
109 light grayish olive	10Y 5/2 #807A67   10Y 6/2 #9B9480
110 grayish olive	5Y 3/2 #514737   7.5Y 3/2 #4F4737   10Y 3/2 #4C4837   5Y 4/2 #6B5F4D   7.5Y 4/2 #68604D   10Y 4/2 #64614E
111 dark grayish olive	5Y 2/2 #393022   7.5Y 2/2 #363122   10Y 2/2 #343123
112 light olive gray	No samples available.
113 olive gray	No samples available.
114 olive black	No samples available.
115 vivid yellow green	7.5GY 6/12 #61A603   2.5GY 7/14 #AFB700   5GY 8/12 #B9D718   2.5GY 8/18 #CAD400   2.5GY 9/14 #E7EF00   7.5GY 9/18 #97FF00
116 brilliant yellow green	5GY 8/8 #C1D36B   2.5GY 8/10 #CCD13E   7.5GY 8/10 #A3DA65   5GY 9/8 #DDEE7E   2.5GY 9/10 #E8ED57   7.5GY 9/10 #BDF677
117 strong yellow green	7.5GY 5/8 #5A8634   7.5GY 5/10 #4F8913   7.5GY 6/8 #75A14B   7.5GY 6/10 #6BA431   7.5GY 7/8 #91BC66   7.5GY 7/10 #87BF4D
118 deep yellow green	2.5GY 4/8 #5F6600   5GY 4/8 #536900   7.5GY 4/8 #3E6C18   5GY 4/10 #4F6A00   7.5GY 4/10 #316E00
119 light yellow green	5GY 8/4 #C9CE9E   2.5GY 8/6 #CECE7F   7.5GY 8/6 #B4D492   5GY 9/4 #E5E9B4   2.5GY 9/6 #EAEA96   7.5GY 9/6 #CFF0A7
120 moderate yellow green	7.5GY 5/4 #6D805D   7.5GY 5/6 #64844A   7.5GY 6/4 #879B75   7.5GY 6/6 #7F9E62   7.5GY 7/4 #A2B58E   7.5GY 7/6 #9AB97B

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