Black Olive
Also known as: Zeus , Rosin , Black Powder , Andiron
Part of the gray family, Black Olive pairs a rich base with a neutral and understated presence. It belongs in minimal interfaces and architecture. Set it against a gray accent when you want the combination to pop. On white it reads clearly at 11.14:1 contrast, safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Reference
Black Olive color codes
- HEX
- #3B3C36
- RGB
- rgb(59, 60, 54)
- RGBA
- rgba(59, 60, 54, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(70, 5%, 22%)
- HSV
- hsv(70, 10%, 24%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(2%, 0%, 10%, 76%)
- LAB
- lab(25.1 -1.4 3.6)
- OKLCH
- oklch(35.3% 0.010 114.6)
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 warm
subtle green undertone in this near-neutral
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: darkslategray #2F4F4F · ΔE 12.9
- RAL 6015: Black olive #3D403A · ΔE 1.7 · 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 Black Olive works
- Web & UI: Dark enough for body text and icons on white backgrounds. It passes WCAG AA as-is.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
- Fashion: A wardrobe neutral: it anchors outfits and pairs with nearly any accent color.
- Branding: Craft and heritage material: coffee, leather goods, and premium packaging live here.
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece, a top, scarf, or shoes, against neutral basics.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Black Olive
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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 Black Olive 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 11.14:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 1.89:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Black Olive background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Black Olive
Black Olive with its complement
Soft neighbors of Black Olive
Black Olive triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Oil #313330 · ΔE 3.4
- Charcoal #343837 · ΔE 3.5
- Vulcanised #424443 · ΔE 4.1
- Dead Pixel #3B3A3A · ΔE 4.4
- Tamahagane #3B3F40 · ΔE 4.5
- Graphite #383428 · ΔE 4.8
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Black Olive is closest to Tuxedo .
FAQ
Black Olive FAQs
What color is Black Olive?
Black Olive is a dark gray with the hex code #3B3C36. In HSL terms it has a hue of 70°, 5% saturation, and 22% lightness.
What is the hex code for Black Olive?
The hex code for Black Olive is #3B3C36. In RGB it's rgb(59, 60, 54), and in CMYK it's cmyk(2%, 0%, 10%, 76%).
What colors go well with Black Olive?
Black Olive pairs naturally with gray tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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