Chart / 7000 series / RAL 7042 Traffic grey a
RAL 7042 Traffic grey a
A mid-toned, almost neutral grey on screen. First published on this chart 24 April 2013.
This swatch is a screen approximation of the colour. Check a physical RAL fan deck or a painted sample of the actual product before you order or match anything.
| Hex (sRGB) | #8F9695 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 143, 150, 149 |
| HSL | 171°, 3%, 57% |
| CMYK (naive) | 5, 0, 1, 41 |
| CIE Lab (from sRGB) | 61.5, -2.7, -0.4 |
| Relative luminance | 29.8% |
| Text contrast | white text 3:1, black text 7:1 |
Values are derived from the approximate hex above. CMYK is a simple conversion, not a print recipe: printers convert through their own profiles. Luminance is a screen figure, not a measured light reflectance value (LRV) from a paint data sheet.
How RAL 7042 reads
Traffic grey A is a mid grey with a faint green cast, close to RAL 7001 silver grey but less blue. It is meant as a neutral working grey and looks steady rather than decorative.
Where it turns up
It suits machinery, road equipment, frames and cladding. A matching grey primer helps coverage, and satin or semi gloss keeps it practical on equipment that gets knocked about.
Ordering RAL 7042 in paint or powder
Quote the number, not just the name: say "RAL Classic 7042" and add the gloss level, the product type (wall paint, metal paint, powder, aerosol) and the surface. The same number mixed by two makers, or in two gloss levels, can look slightly different, so keep a whole job in one batch and look at a sample in daylight first. The paint counter guide covers the questions to ask.