Amethyst
Also known as: Legendary Lavender , Trunks Hair , Violet Voltage , Iridescent Purple
On screen, Amethyst registers as regal and mysterious: a soft purple at home in creative portfolios and premium packaging. Amethyst plays well with green tones. The harmonies below show which ones. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (5.13:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Reference
Amethyst color codes
- HEX
- #9966CC
- RGB
- rgb(153, 102, 204)
- RGBA
- rgba(153, 102, 204, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(270, 50%, 60%)
- HSV
- hsv(270, 50%, 80%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(25%, 50%, 0%, 20%)
- LAB
- lab(52.1 36.0 -45.7)
- OKLCH
- oklch(60.8% 0.156 305.3)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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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
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neutral, leaning cool
Nearest standard colors
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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 →
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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: mediumpurple #9370DB · ΔE 4.3
- RAL 4005: Blue lilac #83639D · ΔE 9.4 · 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 Amethyst works
- Web & UI: Best as a button fill, badge, or accent. Pair it with white text only at large sizes, and check contrast.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece, a top, scarf, or shoes, against neutral basics.
- Branding: Premium territory: beauty, creative tools, and boutique brands lean on this range.
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Amethyst
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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 →
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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
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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 →
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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 Amethyst 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 4.10:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 5.13:1
AA pass AAA fail AA large pass
Best text color on a Amethyst background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Amethyst
Amethyst with its complement
Soft neighbors of Amethyst
Amethyst triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Viola #966EBD · ΔE 3.9
- Lavender #B56EDC · ΔE 6.1
- Lavendless #B86FC2 · ΔE 8.3
- Wisteria #A87DC2 · ΔE 8.5
- Fake Love #CC77EE · ΔE 11.0
- Scampi #6F63A0 · ΔE 11.1
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Amethyst is closest to BioShock .
FAQ
Amethyst FAQs
What color is Amethyst?
Amethyst is a medium purple with the hex code #9966CC. In HSL terms it has a hue of 270°, 50% saturation, and 60% lightness.
What is the hex code for Amethyst?
The hex code for Amethyst is #9966CC. In RGB it's rgb(153, 102, 204), and in CMYK it's cmyk(25%, 50%, 0%, 20%).
What colors go well with Amethyst?
Amethyst pairs naturally with green tones from its complementary harmony, and with brown accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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