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colour identification - GREY

LegoWeLoveLegoWeLove
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HI so I am having some trouble identifying different shades of grey < especially as BL and BO do not have the same names for the same colours. Is there any accurate poster or resource that will help ?

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  • 18 Comments sorted by Votes Date Added
  • Jay37Jay37
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    If it's any consolation I struggled with grays (and browns) when I started. I find you need good daylight, but not bright sunlight (too harsh and shadows won't help) and it also helps to have lots of both to compare. Once you start to separate into piles you should start to see the difference. For me, the old Light Gray appears to have a slight yellowish tinge whereas Medium Stone Gray is more blue. Whatever you do don't try to work it out under artificial yellow light!
  • Jay37Jay37
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    http://www.newelementary.com/2015/03/lego-colour-chart-reference.html?m=1

    Also try this reference. For my money Ryan Howerter has taken some really quite good photos of all LEGO colours which I think is invaluable to any of us. I think he has a Flickr account too and I can spend ages trawling through it!
  • GrahamGraham
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    What I did in the beginning was buy NEW 2x2 tiles of all grays stick them on a plate side by side as a swatch
  • OldfanOldfan
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    The color names for all the major fan sites can also be accessed here: https://www.brickowl.com/colors

    (see the link at the bottom of this page)
  • LegoWeLoveLegoWeLove
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    Great thanks - Im just worried to send the wrong grey ! I have used the name chart that's very helpful and maybe I will try to buy some new bricks and create that swatch .. a poster with all main colours would be great !
  • GrahamGraham
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    @LegoWeLove

    You'd be better off with physical bricks/tiles. Anything printed or on screen may not be accurate enough. The 3001 is, I believe, available in pretty much every color
  • BricksOnTapBricksOnTap
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    I had a tough time with this at first too, but here's what I've learned over 4 years of selling...
    Grays are pretty easy as 90% plus will fall into one of the colors below. You can use an LED light with a Kelvin rating (AKA color temp) of over 4000, sometimes called daylight or bright white. I use an architect's lamp with a 75 Watt equivalent LED bulb. The bright light, with the covering over it (so I'm not blinded) along with the high Kelvin rating make it easy to see the difference between the newer and older shades of gray, assuming your eyes can see the difference. It's all about the lighting.

    Newer colors:
    BO: Medium Stone Grey = BL: Light Bluish Gray
    BO: Dark Stone Gray = BL: Dark Bluish Gray

    Older colors:
    BO: Light Gray = BL: Light Gray
    BO: Dark Gray = BL: Dark Gray
  • FazpackFazpack
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    Glad i found this discussion and links. Yes i must admit that the variety of lego colours has made me think i am colour blind whilst listing parts on several occasions. I am using used parts so the discoloured bricks also make the colour selection task very burdensome lol
  • HoddieHoddie
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    Apparently you can tell old/new grays apart easily with the help of a black light. Haven't tested it myself but would be interested to know what other forum users say.
  • pippyblockspippyblocks
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    Not sure about that @hoddie, just tried but didn't show difference. Great for trans neon parts though. I'd honestly advise everyone who sells to buy both old and new dark and light grey in 2x4 bricks, as well as brown and reddish brown, medium and dark azure, medium blue as a bare minimum. Oh and also a selection of 'known' pearl light grey and flat silver bionicle parts.
  • HoddieHoddie
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    @pippyblocks - maybe it's a fluorescent light then? Heard something about lights making it easy :)

    I don't have any issue except with the smallest pieces, and with those I just take them outside and it's pretty easy under actual daylight.
  • GrahamGraham
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    In the beginning I used one of these from. https://www.ottlite.com

    They used to sell one combined with a magnifier not sure if they do now. It was a godsend!

    After a few years you won’t need anything, in any kind of light you’ll see the difference, unless they screw up the pigment, I had some reddish brown that look closer to old brown. I couldn’t sell them gave them to the kids
  • CalibrickCalibrick
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    Ugh the pigment is what gets me still... there are modern medium stone gray pours that have a brownish tint to it occasionally. Not an issue with plates, bricks, etc (easy to spot), but it can make axles and pins really challenging to color classify at times.

    I would add to this there is a light stone gray also, though I've only ever encountered it in Bionicle parts.
  • Jay37Jay37
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    @Graham I have one from Hobbycraft (might not be that brand) that had a magnifier and I agree, it was very useful but like you I don't use it as much now. Might dust it off in autumn and winter when natural daylight is in shorter supply, but otherwise it's now experience that counts.
  • LegoWeLoveLegoWeLove
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    Hi guys thanks so much - I am considering a magnifier and light combo as not a spring chicken anymore and sight leaves a little to be desired!
  • One_Click_OffOne_Click_Off
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    No one has yet spoken of that grey that is between old Light Grey and Medium Stone Grey. We have encountered several parts, mainly standard and nonstandard plates- beautiful, glossy- that are newer and “Between” these two colors. Originally tried to list and describe the variant but have ultimately removed for personal use. Has anyone else encountered these, and if so, what is the true color?🙃
  • CalibrickCalibrick
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    @One_Click_Off, I think you're referencing what I was talking about - there are modern medium stone gray pours with a brownish tint, that really puts them between light gray and MSG - but in my case, I know when they are definitely MSG if I pulled it from a new set myself. Other times, I try to note the brownish tint for the customer, as they are definitely NOT light gray though and would muck up someone trying to part out an old set and wanted true light gray. Super frustrating. :-(
  • One_Click_OffOne_Click_Off
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    Ooooo, yes, @Calibrick , exactly everything you have said!
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