Molasses
Also known as: Black Sand , Charred Hickory , Piano Brown , Smooth Coffee
Expect earthy and grounded associations from Molasses, a rich brown suited to coffee and food branding and rustic interiors. Reach for a cyan companion shade to give Molasses maximum contrast. Accessibility-wise, it clears AA for text on white at 8.48:1.
Reference
Molasses color codes
- HEX
- #574A47
- RGB
- rgb(87, 74, 71)
- RGBA
- rgba(87, 74, 71, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(11, 10%, 31%)
- HSV
- hsv(11, 18%, 34%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 15%, 18%, 66%)
- LAB
- lab(32.7 5.2 3.9)
- OKLCH
- oklch(42.1% 0.018 33.1)
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 warm
subtle red 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: dimgray #696969 · ΔE 12.3
- RAL 8019: Grey brown #3F3A3A · ΔE 7.2 · 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 Molasses 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: As a brand anchor it reads established and tactile; pair with a single vivid accent for energy.
- 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 Molasses
?
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 Molasses 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 8.48:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 2.48:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Molasses background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Molasses
Molasses with its complement
Soft neighbors of Molasses
Molasses triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Chinotto #554747 · ΔE 2.1
- Lynx #604D47 · ΔE 3.2
- Matterhorn #524B4B · ΔE 3.2
- Mustang #5E4A47 · ΔE 3.3
- Smokescreen #5E5755 · ΔE 5.1
- Bark #5F5854 · ΔE 5.6
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Molasses is closest to Obsidian .
FAQ
Molasses FAQs
What color is Molasses?
Molasses is a dark brown with the hex code #574A47. In HSL terms it has a hue of 11°, 10% saturation, and 31% lightness.
What is the hex code for Molasses?
The hex code for Molasses is #574A47. In RGB it's rgb(87, 74, 71), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 15%, 18%, 66%).
What colors go well with Molasses?
Molasses pairs naturally with cyan tones from its complementary harmony, and with gray accents from its split-complementary palette. 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.