DMC 451 — Shell Gray Dark

• DMC 07

  Driftwood

  ΔE 3.0

• DMC 646

  Beaver Gray Dark

  ΔE 6.1

• DMC 3861

  Cocoa Light

  ΔE 6.2

• DMC 840

  Beige Brown Medium

  ΔE 9.7

• DMC 3790

  Beige Gray Ultra Dark

  ΔE 9.7

• DMC 611

  Drab Brown

  ΔE 9.7

• DMC 169

  Pewter Light

  ΔE 10.2

• DMC 3859

  Rosewood Light

  ΔE 10.9

• DMC 414

  Steel Gray Dark

  ΔE 11.1

• DMC 3772

  Desert Sand Very Dark

  ΔE 11.1

• DMC 3862

  Mocha Beige Dark

  ΔE 11.1

• DMC 3041

  Antique Violet Medium

  ΔE 11.6

Frequently asked questions

What color is DMC 451?

DMC 451 is Shell Gray Dark, a medium brown shade of DMC six-strand cotton embroidery floss. On screen it reads as #917B73 — RGB 145, 123, 115 and HSL 16°, 12%, 51% — and it falls in the browns & tans range of the DMC chart. On-screen color is an approximation, so confirm against a physical shade card.

What DMC number is Shell Gray Dark?

Shell Gray Dark is DMC 451, and it converts to Anchor 233. When you're buying floss, search by the number — DMC organizes its range by code, and thread names aren't always printed on the skein.

What Anchor color is equivalent to DMC 451?

DMC 451 (Shell Gray Dark) converts to Anchor 233. Cross-brand conversions are the closest available match, not an identical thread — DMC and Anchor shades can differ slightly, so check a physical shade card for colors that matter.

What is the hex code for DMC 451?

DMC 451 (Shell Gray Dark) is #917B73 in hex — that's RGB 145, 123, 115 or HSL 16°, 12%, 51%. These are an approximation of the floss for on-screen preview; real thread color varies, so check a shade card before buying.

How do I shade with DMC 451?

To build dimension, flank DMC 451 (51% lightness) with a lighter and a darker neighbor: Cocoa Light (DMC 3861) sits at 58% for highlights, and Beige Gray Ultra Dark (DMC 3790) at 42% for shadows. All three are perceptually close, so they read as one smooth gradient rather than a visible jump.

Which DMC colors are closest to 451?

The perceptually nearest DMC shades to 451 are Driftwood (DMC 07), Beaver Gray Dark (DMC 646), Cocoa Light (DMC 3861), ranked by CIEDE2000 color distance. They're useful for shading and blending, or as a substitute when 451 is out of stock.