Learn which scale step is the most appropriate for each use case.
There are 12 steps in each scale. Each step was designed for at least one specific use case.
This table is a simple overview of the most common use case for each step. However, there are many exceptions and caveats to factor in, which are covered in further detail below.
Step | Use Case |
|---|---|
1 | App background |
2 | Subtle background |
3 | UI element background |
4 | Hovered UI element background |
5 | Active / Selected UI element background |
6 | Subtle borders and separators |
7 | UI element border and focus rings |
8 | Hovered UI element border |
9 | Solid backgrounds |
10 | Hovered solid backgrounds |
11 | Low-contrast text |
12 | High-contrast text |
1
2
Steps 1 and 2 are designed for app backgrounds and subtle component backgrounds. You can use them interchangeably, depending on the vibe you're going for.
Appropriate applications include:
3
4
5
Steps 3, 4, and 5 are designed for UI component backgrounds.
3 is for normal states.4 is for hover states.5 is for pressed or selected states.If your component has a transparent background in its default state, you can use Step 3 for its hover state.
6
7
8
Steps 6, 7, and 8 are designed for borders.
6 is designed for subtle borders on components which are not interactive. For example sidebars, headers, cards, alerts, and separators.7 is designed for subtle borders on interactive components.8 is designed for stronger borders on interactive components and focus rings.9
10
Steps 9 and 10 are designed for solid backgrounds.
Step 9 has the highest chroma of all steps in the scale. In other words, it's the purest step, the step mixed with the least amount of white or black. Because 9 is the purest step, it has a wide range of applications:
Step 10 is designed for component hover states, where step 9 is the component's normal state background.
11
12
Steps 11 and 12 are designed for text.
11 is designed for low-contrast text.12 is designed for high-contrast text.