What color is #281E2B?

#281E2B is a very dark, grayish magenta, closest to the named color Melanzane. It belongs to the black family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #281E2B?

The RGB value is 40, 30, 43: 40 red, 30 green and 43 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #281E2B?

The complementary color is #212B1E, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #281E2B?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.31:1 and white text 16.02:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#281E2B color

#281E2B rgb(40, 30, 43)

Shades of black

The hex color #281E2B is a very dark, grayish magenta.

In the RGB color model it is made of 15.7% red, 11.8% green and 16.9% blue (40, 30, 43).

Its hue angle is 286°, with 18% saturation and 14% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 7% cyan, 30% magenta, 0% yellow and 83% black.

The closest named color is Melanzane (#342931), a difference of 4.4 ΔE, a small difference.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 16.02:1).

#281E2B color codes

HEX	`#281E2B`
RGB	`rgb(40, 30, 43)`
RGB percent	`rgb(15.7%, 11.8%, 16.9%)`
HSL	`hsl(286, 18%, 14%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(286, 30%, 17%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(7%, 30%, 0%, 83%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(12.95, 7.89, -6.87)`
CIE LCH	`lch(12.95, 10.46, 318.94)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(1.775, 1.554, 2.491)`
Decimal	`2629163`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #281E2B, based on their position on the color wheel.

Complementary

The color opposite on the color wheel (180°). Strongest contrast.

Analogous

Neighbors 30° either side. Calm, natural combinations.

Split complementary

The two colors next to the complement (150° and 210°).

Triadic

Three colors evenly spaced, 120° apart.

Tetradic (square)

Four colors 90° apart.

Shades, tints and tones

Shades (darker, mixed with black)

Tints (lighter, mixed with white)

Tones (mixed with gray)

Contrast and accessibility

Text on #281E2B	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	1.31:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	16.02:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

#281E2B as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	16.02:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	1.31:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

WCAG 2 asks for 4.5:1 for normal text (AA), 7:1 for AAA, and 3:1 for large text. Check other pairs.

Color blindness simulation

How #281E2B looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #281e2b; }
.text { color: #281e2b; }
.border { border: 2px solid #281e2b; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(40 30 43 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #281e2b, #2b1e27); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Dark Purple.

Questions

What color is #281E2B?: #281E2B is a very dark, grayish magenta, closest to the named color Melanzane. It belongs to the black family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #281E2B?: The RGB value is 40, 30, 43: 40 red, 30 green and 43 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #281E2B?: The complementary color is #212B1E, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #281E2B?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.31:1 and white text 16.02:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.