#E2E1EA · #E9E0DB
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 0/100 (fail) · Harmony 83/100 (triadic) · Distinguishable 24/100 (hard to tell apart) · Match 83/100 (close). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Gainsboro and CloudNine are very close (ΔE 8). They have distinctly different hues (135° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Gainsboro text on CloudNine: 1.00:1 (Fail); CloudNine text on Gainsboro: 1.00:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #65646B clears it.
Triadic — triadic — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 83/100). This is about how they look together (clothing, interiors, branding), independent of text contrast.
Not at body size — the best direction is only 1.0:1, below the 4.5:1 minimum. Nudging one colour to #65646B clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 8 — very close.
close but visibly different (ΔE 7.8).
Explore each color: Gainsboro #E2E1EA · CloudNine #E9E0DB · Shades: Gainsboro shades · CloudNine shades · Contrast checker →