Ink Black
N490-7 · #45494D · LRV 7 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Ink Black7
- 2Pewter Green12
- 3Retreat21
What Color Is Ink Black, Really?
Ink Black reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Behr N490-7 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Ink Black
Ink Black earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Ink Black
At LRV 7, Ink Black is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Ink Black are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Behr N490-7 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | CyberspaceSW 7076 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.7 | 6 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Raccoon Fur2126-20 · Benjamin Moore | 0.7 | 8 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Blindfold4007-2C · Valspar | 1.6 | 6.7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Black ForestPPG1012-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.1 | 7 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Black ForestPPG1012-7 · Glidden | 2.1 | 7 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Anchored Blue434-7DB · Dutch Boy | 0.7 | 6 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Ink Black within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #45494D in HSL space. Pair Ink Black with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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