Silver: a shiny twist on gray.

Learn all about silver and how to use it in your creative projects.

Silver, like the dollar, like the medal, like the bullet — it’s sleek, shiny, modern, and eternally sophisticated. Silver may be second to gold on the podium, but when used well in your designs, it’s a real winner. Learn more about silver (hex code #C0C0C0) and how to make it work for your creative vision.

What is silver?

In RGB values, silver comprises R: 192, G: 192, and B: 192. Silver is a metallic, shiny version of gray (hex #808080). It's not a true or solid color but rather a reflective tone. To achieve silver, you must apply a reflective pigment to a gray base. This can either be something physical like metallic paint, or an editing effect that adds a gleam to your gray.

Silver pairings that take the gold.

Silver can be a gorgeous reflective tone in a pastel palette; a centerpiece of a sterile or futuristic style; or a rich, vivid contrast. As a middle ground between black and white, it’s a versatile color, and its sheen reflects the colors it’s paired with.

Because of these features, silver complements pastel hues for a dreamy mood; it contrasts with deep jewel tones like emerald and turquoise for majestic elegance. Silver is also often associated with futuristic technology, prestige, status, and innovation. You’ve likely seen silver used in tech and corporate logos to convey modernity and affluence. Sci-fi and dystopian films such as Ex Machina, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Blade Runner likewise use silver tones from shiny chrome to rusty gunmetal to convey stunningly hi-tech or bleak, barren futuristic landscapes. (The best sci-fi movies often use silver-hued visuals to create both effects simultaneously.)

Learn more about graphic design with helpful tips and resources. Find out what you can make — from logos and icons to illustrations and poster art — with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.