What color is #281F2A?

#281F2A 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 #281F2A?

The RGB value is 40, 31, 42: 40 red, 31 green and 42 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #281F2A?

The complementary color is #212A1F, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #281F2A?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.32:1 and white text 15.91:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#281F2A color

#281F2A rgb(40, 31, 42)

Shades of black

The hex color #281F2A is a very dark, grayish magenta.

In the RGB color model it is made of 15.7% red, 12.2% green and 16.5% blue (40, 31, 42).

Its hue angle is 289°, with 15% saturation and 14% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 5% cyan, 26% magenta, 0% yellow and 84% black.

The closest named color is Melanzane (#342931), a difference of 3.8 ΔE, a small difference.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 15.91:1).

#281F2A color codes

HEX	`#281F2A`
RGB	`rgb(40, 31, 42)`
RGB percent	`rgb(15.7%, 12.2%, 16.5%)`
HSL	`hsl(289, 15%, 14%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(289, 26%, 16%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(5%, 26%, 0%, 84%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(13.22, 6.9, -5.73)`
CIE LCH	`lch(13.22, 8.97, 320.29)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(1.783, 1.598, 2.405)`
Decimal	`2629418`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #281F2A, 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 #281F2A	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	1.32:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	15.91:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

#281F2A as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	15.91:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	1.32:1	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 #281F2A looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #281f2a; }
.text { color: #281f2a; }
.border { border: 2px solid #281f2a; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(40 31 42 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #281f2a, #2a1f26); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Licorice.

Questions

What color is #281F2A?: #281F2A 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 #281F2A?: The RGB value is 40, 31, 42: 40 red, 31 green and 42 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #281F2A?: The complementary color is #212A1F, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #281F2A?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.32:1 and white text 15.91:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.