The RGB or html color of paper

Question

I am trying to find the color of paper from a paperback novel. Maybe it is a stupid question but I am working on a program in my spare time that provides a large number of pages for a user to read through and am looking for the comfortably familiar color of a well worn paperback novel. My scanner seems to bleach the pages I have tried to sample. (looking for a sheepish emoticon right now)

Answer 1

There really isn't a single color that matches a paperback novel -- a gradient or textured pattern would be better to get the effect you are looking for. (Although, speaking only for myself -- I find that plain black text on a white background to be the easiest to read on the screen or off of it. The font face makes a greater difference than the background color, IMHO.)

Answer 2

I agree with Sean's answer. But if you want a color, choose one from http://www.mcfedries.com/books/cightml/x11color.htm also in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X11_color_names

Answer 3

There isn't really a "color of paper". What color the paper appears as depends on how it was manufactured, how old it is, if it's been left in the sun, if it's been sitting open collecting dust, how many times you've spilled coffee on it, and more.

I think rather than trying to find the exact RGB color value for "paper", you should do one of:

1. White. It's easy to read.
2. Light tan, and include some sort of rough-edge image border. You'll at least send the impression of paper.
3. Tile a background image of some paper texture. So long as the source is large enough and tiles well, it ought to look okay.

Answer 4

A scanner will automatically change the white balance.Try taking a photo of a sheet of paper out in the sun. Set your white balance to sunlight; don't use auto white balance. Then read that in with Photoshop or Paint.NET or something and use the eyedropper tool.

As for paper color as a concept, there's a parameter called paper brightness, which I absolutely don't understand:

http://www.axiphos.com/BrightnessReview.pdf

My parents are in the print business, and yeah, there are a myriad of paper colors out there that tend to change the mood of the book as well as the aging characteristics. On screen though, I think it'll invariably have a cartoonish effect -- which is good if that's what you're going for.