Kelp
Also known as: Freshwater Marsh , Lunar Green , Amazon Depths , Castle Stone
Quietly grounded and restorative, Kelp is a warm-toned green that earns its keep in finance apps and outdoor gear. Set it against a blue accent when you want the combination to pop. On white it reads clearly at 8.31:1 contrast, safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Reference
Kelp color codes
- HEX
- #4D503C
- RGB
- rgb(77, 80, 60)
- RGBA
- rgba(77, 80, 60, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(69, 14%, 27%)
- HSV
- hsv(69, 25%, 31%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(4%, 0%, 25%, 69%)
- LAB
- lab(33.3 -4.2 11.4)
- OKLCH
- oklch(42.3% 0.032 114.7)
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 13.7
- RAL 7013: Brown grey #555548 · 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 Kelp 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: Reads as growth and sustainability, at home in wellness, food, and environmental brands.
- 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 Kelp
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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 Kelp 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 8.31:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 2.53:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Kelp background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Kelp
Kelp with its complement
Soft neighbors of Kelp
Kelp triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Olive Leaf #4E4B35 · ΔE 3.6
- Cypress #585D40 · ΔE 5.3
- Deep Forest #3C463E · ΔE 7.1
- Masala #57534B · ΔE 7.7
- Palm Leaf #36482F · ΔE 7.7
- Olive Bark #5F5537 · ΔE 7.8
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Kelp is closest to Freefall .
FAQ
Kelp FAQs
What color is Kelp?
Kelp is a dark green with the hex code #4D503C. In HSL terms it has a hue of 69°, 14% saturation, and 27% lightness.
What is the hex code for Kelp?
The hex code for Kelp is #4D503C. In RGB it's rgb(77, 80, 60), and in CMYK it's cmyk(4%, 0%, 25%, 69%).
What colors go well with Kelp?
Kelp pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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