Dark green is a deep, rich shade of the color green. It sits between standard green and forest green on the color wheel and hex code chart. Dark green gets its name from having low lightness and a high amount of green pigment. This makes it a darker, deeper, and more intense green. Dark green is a versatile color that works well in many different contexts from interior design to brand identities. Determining what constitutes dark green specifically comes down to color codes and IDs.
Defining Dark Green
When identifying dark green, it helps to understand some color theory principles. The main characteristics that define a dark green are:
- Low lightness or value – Dark greens have a low lightness rating, meaning they reflect little light. This makes them appear deeper and more saturated.
- High chroma/saturation – Dark green contains a substantial amount of pure green pigment and low amounts of black or white. This gives it a high level of color intensity.
- Green hue – The base hue is green, positioning it between yellow and blue on the color wheel.
The exact specifications used to classify a green as “dark” can vary slightly across color codes and systems. But in general, dark greens fall in a range of having:
- A lightness of about 15-45%
- Saturation level of 50% or higher
- A hue angle of 120-180 degrees
When a green meets these criteria, it is considered a dark shade. Within this range, there are a few definitive dark greens that are recognized universally across color standards.
Common Dark Green Shades
Here are some of the most popular and widely used dark greens:
Forest Green
– Hex Code: #228B22
– RGB: 34, 139, 34
– CMYK: 75, 0, 100, 45
– HSL: 120, 61%, 34%
Forest green sits in the middle of the dark green range. It is the official green of the Boy Scouts and is associated with growth, renewal, and the great outdoors.
British Racing Green
– Hex Code: #004225
– RGB: 0, 66, 37
– CMYK: 100, 30, 94, 74
– HSL: 158, 100%, 13%
British racing green is a very deep, rich green, almost blackened. It has traditionally been used on British racing cars and is equated with luxury and heritage.
Army Green
– Hex Code: #4B5320
– RGB: 75, 83, 32
– CMYK: 10, 0, 100, 67
– HSL: 67, 25%, 28%
Army green is a muted, dusky dark green like military camouflage. It represents strength, resilience, and masculinity.
Bottle Green
– Hex Code: #006A4E
– RGB: 0, 106, 78
– CMYK: 100, 0, 26, 58
– HSL: 160, 100%, 19%
Bottle green is a very deep shade, almost black. It often references recycled glass bottles and vintage glassware color.
Pine Green
– Hex Code: #01796F
– RGB: 1, 121, 111
– CMYK: 99, 0, 8, 53
– HSL: 175, 100%, 22%
Pine green is a grayish muted jungle green, which connects to pine tree needles and the deep woods.
Identifying Dark Greens in Color Codes
Color ordering systems like RGB, CMYK, HSL, and hex codes all provide numerical IDs for shades of green. Here is how dark green is identified across some main color codes:
RGB Values
In RGB color, dark green will have:
– Red value of 0-75
– Green value of 75-139
– Blue value of 25-80
Color | RGB Value |
Forest Green | R:34 G:139 B:34 |
British Racing Green | R:0 G:66 B:37 |
CMYK Values
For CMYK, dark greens generally are:
– Cyan: 40-100%
– Magenta: 0-75%
– Yellow: 0-100%
– Black: 40-100%
Color | CMYK Value |
Army Green | C:10 M:0 Y:100 K:67 |
Bottle Green | C:100 M:0 Y:26 K:58 |
HSL Values
For HSL, specifications for dark green are roughly:
– Hue: 120-175 degrees
– Saturation: 25-100%
– Lightness: 15-45%
Color | HSL Value |
Pine Green | H:175 S:100% L:22% |
Forest Green | H:120 S:61% L:34% |
Hex Codes
Hex color codes for dark greens generally range from:
– #003000 to #007500
– #006600 to #009900
Some dark greens in hex codes:
Color | Hex Code |
British Racing Green | #004225 |
Bottle Green | #006A4E |
So in summary, identifying dark green comes down to recognizing values in these ranges across color order systems.
Dark Green in Daily Use
Now that we can identify dark green numerically, here is how it commonly appears in various contexts:
Design and Decor
In interior design, dark greens lend a classical, earthy feel. They pair well with warm wood tones and are popular in studies, dining rooms, and living spaces. Dark green evokes heritage and tradition in decor.
Fashion
Dark green is a staple neutral in fashion. It is widely used in fall/winter collections and brings richness to ensembles. Dark army greens and pine greens are amongst the most popular shades in apparel.
Packaging
For packaging and branding, dark greens suggest eco-friendliness, strength, and durability. Many health and outdoor brands leverage dark green to connect to the natural world.
Digital Design
Dark greens also work very well digitally. The high contrast makes dark green easy to read in any interface. It brings an earthy, utilitarian touch to websites, apps, infographics, and more.
Conclusion
In summary, dark green is classified by having low lightness and a high chroma green. It covers a range but some universally recognized dark greens are forest, British racing, army, bottle, and pine greens. Color codes like RGB, CMYK, HSL, and hex all provide numeric specifications that define dark greens. These versatile hues are widely used in design across many mediums and contexts. So the “color ID” of dark green comes down to its numeric values, but also its symbolic meanings of nature, heritage, strength, and more.