Krypton vs Network Gray
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Krypton belongs to the blue-grey family and Network Gray to the grey family. Krypton (LRV 52) reflects noticeably more light than Network Gray (LRV 37), a difference of 15 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Krypton runs cool while Network Gray is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 9.8 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Krypton vs Network Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Krypton and Network Gray 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Krypton will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Network Gray would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Krypton reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Network Gray.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Krypton reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Network Gray.
Color Details
Krypton vs Network Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Krypton on one side and Network Gray 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 Krypton comparisons
See how Krypton stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 52), opening up a space where Krypton encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 52 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 52 vs 30, Krypton is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (60 vs 52) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Krypton reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (52 vs 43) makes Krypton the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Krypton reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 52, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 52), opening up a space where Krypton encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 52), opening up a space where Krypton encloses it.
Krypton reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 52), opening up a space where Krypton encloses it.
Krypton reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Krypton reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 31, Krypton is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 7, Krypton is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 24, Krypton is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (57 vs 52) makes Guilford Green the marginally brighter of the two.