Feldgrau

HEX: #4D5D53 | Modern Palette

On White
6.99:1
PASS
On Black
3.01:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#4D5D53
RGB
77, 93, 83
HSL
142°, 17% ,36%
CMYK
17.2, 0, 10.75, 63.53

About Feldgrau

Feldgrau (#4D5D53) is a color with RGB(77, 93, 83) and HSL(142.5°, 17.2%, 36.47%). It is commonly associated with Calm, Earthy moods. In design, it fits Muted, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is #5D4D57, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #534D5D and #5D534D. The name comes from Feldgrau (German).

  • HEX: #4D5D53
  • RGB: 77, 93, 83
  • HSL: 142.5°, 17.2%, 36.47%
  • Mood: Calm, Earthy
  • Style: Muted, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Background, Border
  • Complementary color: #5D4D57
  • Triadic colors: #534D5D, #5D534D
  • The name comes from Feldgrau (German).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Feldgrau #4D5D53 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
FELDGRAU
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
FELDGRAU
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Feldgrau #4D5D53 pairs with #5D4D57 as its complementary color, and #534D5D and #5D534D in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

FELDGRAU
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

FELDGRAU
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

FELDGRAU
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

FELDGRAU
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

FELDGRAU
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

FELDGRAU

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Feldgrau #4D5D53 moves from dark #0C0E0C tones through the base color to lighter #F1F3F2 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

FELDGRAU

Color Characteristics

Mood
Calm Earthy
Style
Muted Cool
Use case
Text Background Border

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #595953
Protanopia #5B5B53
Tritanopia #4F5C5C
Achromatopsia #595959

Frequently Asked Questions

Feldgrau (#4D5D53) is a color with RGB(77, 93, 83) and HSL(142.5°, 17.2%, 36.47%).

#4D5D53 pairs strongly with #5D4D57 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#4D5D53 is suitable for Text, Background, Border and works well with Muted, Cool styles.

#4D5D53 is commonly associated with Calm, Earthy.

The name Feldgrau is linked to Feldgrau from German, meaning field grey.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Feldgrau
Meaning field grey
Language German
First Recorded Use Early 20th Century

History

Before 1907, German infantry uniforms were typically dark blue (Prussian blue). The experience of the Boer War (1899-1902) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) highlighted the tactical disadvantage of brightly colored uniforms in modern warfare. Germany, along with other nations, began to adopt more camouflaged colors. 'Feldgrau' was chosen for its ability to blend into various European landscapes, offering better concealment than the previous blue. It was a significant shift in military uniform design and became synonymous with the German military throughout both World War I and World War II, though the exact shade varied slightly over time and between different manufacturers.

First Recorded Use

The term 'Feldgrau' as a specific uniform color was officially introduced by the German Imperial Army in 1907.

Cultural Associations

Feldgrau is deeply embedded in German military history and popular culture. It is often associated with the image of the German soldier (Landser) from the World Wars. The color itself evokes a sense of seriousness, practicality, and the harsh realities of conflict. Beyond its military context, the term 'Feldgrau' can sometimes be used more broadly in German to describe a drab, greenish-grey color. Its historical significance makes it a recognizable symbol of a particular era in German history.

Similar Named Colors
Ebony #555D50 ΔE 3.63
Gray Asparagus #465945 ΔE 4.90
Rifle Green #444C38 ΔE 7.85
Stormcloud #4F666A ΔE 8.15

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #4D5D53;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #4D5D53;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #4D5D53;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #4D5D53,
        #6D4D61
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #4D5D53,
        #6D4D61
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$feldgrau: #4D5D53;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$feldgrau-r: 77;
$feldgrau-g: 93;
$feldgrau-b: 83;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $feldgrau;
    color: rgba($feldgrau-r, $feldgrau-g, $feldgrau-b, 0.8);
}