Inkwell vs Tricorn Black
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Hue-wise, Inkwell belongs to the blue-grey family and Tricorn Black to the grey family. With LRVs of 4 and 3, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. The tonal difference — Inkwell's cool character against Tricorn Black's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 4.1, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Inkwell vs Tricorn Black in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Inkwell and Tricorn Black are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Inkwell reads more restrained here, while Tricorn Black adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The temperature contrast between Tricorn Black and Inkwell is what sets these apart most in this context.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The temperature contrast between Tricorn Black and Inkwell is what sets these apart most in this context.
Front Door
Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Inkwell reads more restrained here, while Tricorn Black adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The temperature contrast between Tricorn Black and Inkwell is what sets these apart most in this context.
Color Details
Inkwell vs Tricorn Black Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Inkwell on one side and Tricorn Black on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Inkwell comparisons
See how Inkwell stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 4, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 4), opening up a space where Inkwell encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 4), opening up a space where Inkwell encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 4), opening up a space where Inkwell encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 4, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 4, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 4), opening up a space where Inkwell encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 4, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 4, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 4), opening up a space where Inkwell encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 4, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 4, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (12 vs 4) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 4, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (12 vs 4) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 4, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 4), opening up a space where Inkwell encloses it.
Pine Needle reads slightly lighter (LRV 7 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Cement grey reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 4), opening up a space where Inkwell encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 4), opening up a space where Inkwell encloses it.