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Platinum

Everything you need to know about platinum to inspire your next design.

Pick a palette type

What color is platinum?

Platinum is a cool, light gray that reflects modernity, sophistication, and luxury. Embodying the color of the silver-white metal, platinum exudes a sense of cleanliness, elegance, and even purity.

platinum colorplatinum color

What does platinum look like on digital screens?

Platinum is defined by the following color codes and values to ensure consistency across various digital platforms and devices.

  • HEX code: #D9D9D9
  • RGB value: 85.1% red, 85.1% green, and 85.1% blue

Accessibility considerations play a crucial role in UX and UI design color choices. Figma offers plugins in the Community to make sure your designs meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

How should I effectively use platinum in UI design?

Here are some ways to use platinum in your designs:

  • Create a sophisticated atmosphere. Platinum’s cool, metallic tone can elevate a modern design, making it suitable for luxury and premium brands.
  • Enhance readability. If used as a background, pair it with colors that offer sufficient contrast for text and other UI elements, like darker shades of gray or black.
  • Convey trust. Platinum’s association with durability, value, and exclusivity fosters a sense of security and trust, making it ideal for financial and investment platforms.

Keep in mind that color and its meaning can change from culture to culture—and at any given time. If you are designing for a global audience, research color considerations for your specific regions.

What are similar colors to platinum?

For variations within the same cool and metallic spectrum as platinum, consider:

  • Silver (#C4C4C4) is similar to platinum but with a warmer undertone.
  • Cool gray (#CBCBCB) provides a darker, more muted version of platinum, creating a subtle and elegant look.
  • Off-white (#F2F0EF) presents a lighter option, offering a delicate and airy feel while retaining platinum’s neutral quality.
  • Light gray (#D3D3D3) is a slightly warmer shade of platinum.

What colors go with platinum?

To complement platinum, consider pairing it with:

  • Charcoal (#4A4A4A) creates a sophisticated and timeless contrast, adding depth to the palette.
  • Royal purple (#6C3BAA) offers a rich and regal contrast, elevating the overall look to a luxurious and opulent level.
  • Navy blue (#000080) provides a classic and elegant contrast, emphasizing platinum’s coolness while creating a sense of sophistication.
  • Crimson red (#B22222) offers a bold and vibrant contrast, adding energy and excitement to the cool tones of platinum.

Other colors worth considering include baby blue or mint green for a softer look or deep jewel tones like emerald green or sapphire blue for a dramatic effect.

What colors conflict with platinum?

While platinum is cool, it may clash with:

  • Bright yellow (#FFED29) creates a stark contrast, resulting in a visually jarring combination.
  • Ivory (#FFFFE3) lacks the necessary contrast to create a visually interesting combination.
  • Brown (#895129) can appear too earthy and dull against platinum.
  • Chartreuse (#CCFF00) offers a sharp, contrasting warmth that clashes with platinum’s cool nature.

What does platinum symbolize?

Platinum represents luxury, exclusivity, and sophistication. It’s often associated with wealth, prestige, and quality. It carries connotations of modernity, technology, and innovation, reflecting forward-thinking and progress.

In color psychology, platinum is associated with calmness, balance, and sophistication. Its cool tone can inspire confidence and authority, while also being perceived as strong and durable, suggesting reliability.

In UI design, platinum conveys elegance and modernity, making it ideal for luxury brands, high-end products, or technology-focused platforms. It also symbolizes trust and reliability, making it appropriate for financial or professional applications.

What’s the history of platinum?

Platinum, the color, is linked to the rare, durable, and precious metal of the same name. Platinum has been prized for centuries, but the color’s association with luxury and prestige is a more recent development.

The term “platinum blonde” gained popularity in the mid-20th century, especially in Hollywood, where it became synonymous with glamor. This connection helped establish platinum as a symbol of modern, luxurious lifestyles and high-end products.

Color variations

Shades

Tints

Tones

Hues

Color Harmonies

Complementary

Split

Monochromatic

Analogous

Triadic

Square

Custom Palettes

Old Hollywood

Business Class

Skate Park

Accessibility: Contrast Checker

Large Text

Figma

Normal Text

How you design, align, and build matters. Do it together with Figma.

This is #D9D9D9 text on a #FFFFFF background.

1.41:1

WCAG 2.2 Simple Contrast

Normal Text

Fail
AA
4.5:1
Fail
AAA
7:1

Large Text

Fail
AA
3:1
Fail
AAA
4.5:1
Large Text

Figma

Normal Text

How you design, align, and build matters. Do it together with Figma.

This is #D9D9D9 text on a #000000 background.

14.88:1

WCAG 2.2 Simple Contrast

Normal Text

Pass
AA
4.5:1
Pass
AAA
7:1

Large Text

Pass
AA
3:1
Pass
AAA
4.5:1

Color simulations

Protanopia

Deuteranopia

Tritanopia

Achromatopsia

Color conversion

The hexadecimal color #D9D9D9, known as platinum, has RGB values of R:217, G:217, B:217 and CMYK values of C:0, M:0, Y:0, K:0.15.

VALUECSS
HEXD9D9D9#D9D9D9
RGB DECIMAL217, 217, 217RGB(217,217,217)
RGB PERCENTAGE85.1, 85.1, 85.1RGB(85.1%,85.1%,85.1%)
CMYK0, 0, 0, 15
HSL0°, 0, 85.1HSL(0°,0%,85.1%)
HSV (OR HSB)0°, 0, 85.1
WEB SAFECCCCCC#CCCCCC
CIE-LAB86.695, -0, -0.008
XYZ65.95, 69.387, 75.561
xyY0.313, 0.329, 69.387
CIE-LCH86.695, 0.008, 266.929
CIE-LUV86.695, -0.005, -0.011
HUNTER-LAB83.299, -4.449, 4.527
BINARY11011001, 11011001, 1101100
iOS - SwiftUIColor(red: 0.851, green: 0.851, blue: 0.851)
iOS - UIKitUIColor(red: 0.851, green: 0.851, blue: 0.851, alpha: 1)
Android - ComposeColor(0xFFD9D9D9)