#383E42
- RGB
- 56, 62, 66
- Brightness
- 60.8
- HSL (°,%,%)
- 204°, 8%, 24%
- HSV V %
- 26%
- Lab
- 25.8, -1.5, -3.3
- CMYK (%)
- 15%, 6%, 0%, 74%
- PNG size
- 5.8 KB
- Tone / Feel
- very dark, muted cool hue
Recommended text: White (10.85:1 — AAA / AAA)
Color Profile: #383E42
Common Name: Deep Graphite Slate
RGB: 56, 62, 66 | HSL: 204°, ~9%, ~24%
Contrast vs White: 9.18:1 (Passes WCAG AA/AAA)
Contrast vs Black: 1.12:1 (Fails AA)
Mood:
A solid, no-nonsense tone that's equal parts mystery and refinement. #383E42 is the kind of color that quietly dominates a room—never flashy, always present. Think of rainy concrete, midnight harbor steel, or the darkest side of industrial design. It's the visual equivalent of a low, rumbling confidence.
Close Named Matches:
- Behr WR14-4 – Winter Coat (#3A3F42) (ΔE=0.91) — Practically a twin, highly notable match in residential paints.
- BS4800-5252 00-A-13 – Storm Grey / Greyfriar (#363E42) (ΔE=0.85) — A direct British Standard match, exact fit in architectural specs.
- Benjamin Moore 2131-20 – Midnight (#383E40) (ΔE=1.32) — Slightly warmer, but professionally indistinguishable in many contexts.
- Pantone FHI 19-5002 TCX – Woodland Gray (#383D3F) (ΔE=1.42) — A fashion-forward and textile-friendly close call.
- Matthews MP19952 – Black Hole Met. (#3B4145) (ΔE=1.33) — Used in signage and commercial interiors, very near match.
• Why Designers Use It.
This is not just a color—it's a design backbone. #383E42 appears often in visual design, UI themes, interior finishes, and architectural coatings. Its low reflectance and bluish undertone make it excellent for emphasizing contrast without pure black's harshness. In software, it's frequently seen in developer themes, dashboards, and CAD tools due to its eye-friendly neutral tone. Architects use it for cladding and framing modernist structures—especially in urban regions across Europe and Japan. It’s common in navy uniforms and subtly echoes industrial metals, wet asphalt, or worn graphite. Its neutrality means it's less tied to trend and more to utility; quietly fashionable in brutalist, cyberpunk, and monochrome palettes. While not a go-to for mass consumer packaging, it’s a favorite in high-end, low-noise, pro-aesthetic spheres—think luxury electronics, camera bodies, or matte-finish auto interiors.