Up In Smoke (PPG0997-4)
A cool, clean medium gray. Darker than Cool Concrete, with more presence on the wall. PPG's solid workhorse for rooms that need a definitive gray without warmth or obvious undertones.
About PPG Up In Smoke
Up In Smoke (PPG0997-4) is a gray from PPG's collection with an LRV of 35 and cool medium gray undertones. A cool, clean medium gray. Darker than Cool Concrete, with more presence on the wall. PPG's solid workhorse for rooms that need a definitive gray without warmth or obvious undertones.
Up In Smoke is a deeper color with an LRV of 35, meaning it absorbs more light than it reflects. This gives it real drama and sophistication. It works well on accent walls, exterior siding, front doors, cabinets, and architectural features where you want a bold statement. In a full room application, make sure you have adequate lighting and use bright white trim to prevent the space from feeling too dark.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV)
Up In Smoke has an LRV of 35, placing it in the medium-dark range on the 0-to-100 scale. LRV measures the percentage of visible light a color reflects. A pure black has an LRV of 0 and a pure white has an LRV of 100. Understanding a color's LRV helps you predict how it will feel in your space: higher LRV means brighter and more spacious, lower LRV means cozier and more intimate.
Undertone Analysis
Up In Smoke has cool medium gray undertones. Undertones are the subtle background colors that become visible in different lighting conditions. Even colors that look "neutral" in the store will reveal their undertones once they are on your walls and interacting with natural light, artificial light, and the colors around them.
A cool, clean medium gray. Darker than Cool Concrete, with more presence on the wall. PPG's solid workhorse for rooms that need a definitive gray without warmth or obvious undertones. Cool undertones like these pair naturally with other cool elements: gray-toned wood, chrome and silver hardware, white marble, and cool-toned textiles. They can feel disconnected from strongly warm elements like honey oak or brass, so consider your existing finishes before committing.
Lighting Behavior
Stays neutral and clean. In bright rooms, it reads as a modern medium gray. In dim rooms, it deepens without pulling warm or cool. Predictable and reliable.
Every paint color looks different depending on the light source in your room. South-facing rooms get warm, direct sunlight that brings out yellow and warm undertones. North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light that emphasizes blue and gray undertones. East-facing rooms are bright and warm in the morning, cooler in the afternoon. West-facing rooms are the opposite: cool morning, warm afternoon. Incandescent and warm LED bulbs push colors warmer, while cool-white LEDs and fluorescent tubes push colors cooler. To avoid surprises, always test Up In Smoke with a physical sample on your actual wall, and observe it at different times of day before committing.
Best Rooms for Up In Smoke
PPG recommends Up In Smoke for: bathroom, office, hallway, bedroom, living room.
Closest Matches in Other Brands
Find the closest equivalent to PPG Up In Smoke from other paint brands. Matches are calculated using Delta E (CIE2000), the industry standard for measuring perceptual color difference.
Benjamin Moore Matches
Coventry Gray is the closest BM match. Both are neutral mid-tone grays.
View all Benjamin Moore matches →Sherwin Williams Matches
Magnetic Gray is close. Both are clean, neutral grays at similar depth.
View all Sherwin Williams matches →Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for PPG Up In Smoke is Magnetic Gray (SW 7058) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Magnetic Gray is close. Both are clean, neutral grays at similar depth. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart, while 2 to 4 means the difference is subtle.
Up In Smoke has cool medium gray undertones. A cool, clean medium gray. Darker than Cool Concrete, with more presence on the wall. PPG's solid workhorse for rooms that need a definitive gray without warmth or obvious undertones. Undertones become most visible when the color is on a large surface like a wall, and they shift depending on the light source in your room. Always test with a physical sample in your specific space to see how the undertones interact with your lighting, flooring, and furnishings.
Up In Smoke (PPG0997-4) has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 35, which puts it in the medium-dark range. LRV measures the percentage of light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white). At 35, this is a darker color that creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Pair it with bright white trim for the best contrast.
Up In Smoke leans cool. The cool medium gray undertones give it a crisp, fresh quality. It pairs well with chrome, silver, cool-toned wood, and white marble. In south-facing rooms with warm light, the cool undertones help keep the color from feeling too warm.
Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.