Black
Black is a essentially neutral (very low saturation) neutral gray shade with RGB(0, 0, 0) and hex code #000000, reading as very dark, close to black at a glance.
HEX
#000000
RGB
0, 0, 0
HSL
0°, 0%, 0%
CMYK
0%, 0%, 0%, 100%
LAB
0, 0, 0
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Description
- •Black (#000000) is a neutral-toned neutral gray color defined by RGB values of 0, 0, 0 and HSL values of 0 degrees hue, 0% saturation, and 0% lightness. At 0% lightness it appears very dark, close to black, and its essentially neutral (very low saturation) character makes it well suited for backgrounds, text, or supporting UI elements. It pairs naturally with its complementary shade #000000 for high-contrast schemes, or with the analogous tones #000000 and #000000 for a more harmonious palette.
Psychology
As a neutral gray shade, Black tends to carry the general associations of that hue family: balance, sophistication, and neutrality. Neutral, low-saturation colors like this are read primarily through their lightness rather than hue, and are prized in design for versatility.
Hue family
neutral gray
Saturation level
essentially neutral (very low saturation)
Lightness level
very dark, close to black
Temperature
neutral
Because Black is essentially neutral (very low saturation) and very dark, close to black, it tends to feel calm and unobtrusive in a design context.
Meaning
Within the neutral gray family, colors like Black are commonly associated with balance, sophistication, and neutrality, though exact interpretation depends on cultural context and surrounding design elements.
Hue family
neutral gray
Common associations
balance, sophistication, and neutrality
Temperature
neutral
History
- 1Black is a named point in a modern digital color palette rather than a documented historical pigment, but the neutral gray family it belongs to has a long design history. Neutral, low-saturation colors like this are read primarily through their lightness rather than hue, and are prized in design for versatility.
Color info
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Visual perception
- At HSL(0, 0%, 0%), Black has a relative luminance of about 0.00 on a 0-1 scale, which generally poses low risk for common color vision deficiencies, though pairing with sufficient lightness contrast is still recommended.
Technology specific
- Black (#000000) renders consistently on standard sRGB displays; on wider-gamut or uncalibrated screens, expect minor shifts in perceived saturation. For print reproduction, convert from RGB to CMYK and proof physically, since muted colors like this can shift noticeably between screen and print.
Guidance
Use Black with white text for readability (contrast ratio approximately 21.0:1). It is versatile enough to use for larger surfaces such as backgrounds or cards.
Examples
web design
page backgrounds
branding
neutral brand background
UI design
card and panel backgrounds
body text or subtle fill
Purpose
Black works well for backgrounds, body text, or supporting UI surfaces where subtlety matters, given its essentially neutral (very low saturation) and very dark, close to black profile.
Benefits
visual contrast
pairs with white text for a WCAG contrast ratio of about 21.0:1
palette flexibility
combines with #000000 (complementary) and #000000/#000000 (triadic) for varied schemes
brand consistency
reads as calm and neutral across most screens