Abyssal
Also known as: Dutch Licorice , Club Navy , Dark Night , Pacific Spirit
Abyssal is a rich, gentle blue that reads as calm and trustworthy. It earns its place in finance apps and trust-driven interfaces. A brown counterpart from the complementary harmony gives it the most tension. It's dark enough to use for text on white backgrounds (8.79:1, passes WCAG AA).
Reference
Abyssal color codes
- HEX
- #404C57
- RGB
- rgb(64, 76, 87)
- RGBA
- rgba(64, 76, 87, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(209, 15%, 30%)
- HSV
- hsv(209, 26%, 34%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(26%, 13%, 0%, 66%)
- LAB
- lab(31.6 -2.8 -8.2)
- OKLCH
- oklch(41.0% 0.024 246.1)
Analysis
Color intelligence
?
Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
?
neutral, leaning cool
subtle blue undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
?
Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
?
Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: darkslategray #2F4F4F · ΔE 11.0
- RAL 7024: Graphite grey #474A50 · ΔE 4.2 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck. Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Abyssal works
- Web & UI: Use it directly for text on light surfaces; it clears AA contrast without adjustment.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land: a front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- Fashion: Works as a base layer or outerwear tone that lets brighter pieces do the talking.
- Branding: The safest brand-primary family there is; differentiate with an unexpected accent.
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Abyssal
?
Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
?
Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
?
Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
?
Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Abyssal by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 8.79:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 2.39:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Abyssal background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Abyssal
Abyssal with its complement
Soft neighbors of Abyssal
Abyssal triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Nightfall #43535E · ΔE 2.7
- Arsenic #3B444B · ΔE 3.3
- Dark Secret #3E5361 · ΔE 3.6
- Isolation #494D55 · ΔE 3.7
- Obsidian #445055 · ΔE 3.7
- Dead Forest #434B4F · ΔE 3.7
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Abyssal is closest to Turtle .
FAQ
Abyssal FAQs
What color is Abyssal?
Abyssal is a dark blue with the hex code #404C57. In HSL terms it has a hue of 209°, 15% saturation, and 30% lightness.
What is the hex code for Abyssal?
The hex code for Abyssal is #404C57. In RGB it's rgb(64, 76, 87), and in CMYK it's cmyk(26%, 13%, 0%, 66%).
What colors go well with Abyssal?
Abyssal pairs naturally with brown tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer . Free, private, on your device.