Noir
Also known as: Industrial Black , Holy Crow , Diesel , Livid Brown
As a deep take on brown, Noir carries warm and rustic energy that suits autumn design and coffee and food branding. Its complement lands in blue territory, which makes for striking two-color pairings. On white it reads clearly at 13.95:1 contrast, safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Reference
Noir color codes
- HEX
- #312B27
- RGB
- rgb(49, 43, 39)
- RGBA
- rgba(49, 43, 39, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(24, 11%, 17%)
- HSV
- hsv(24, 20%, 19%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 12%, 20%, 81%)
- LAB
- lab(18.1 2.2 3.7)
- OKLCH
- oklch(29.4% 0.011 55.9)
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 orange 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: black #000000 · ΔE 11.9
- RAL 8022: Black brown #211F20 · ΔE 5.5 · 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 Noir 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 Noir
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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 Noir 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 13.95:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 1.51:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Noir background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Noir
Noir with its complement
Soft neighbors of Noir
Noir triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Holy Crow #332F2C · ΔE 1.7
- Diesel #322C2B · ΔE 2.1
- Wood Bark #302621 · ΔE 2.8
- Kilimanjaro #3A3532 · ΔE 3.3
- Mole #392D2B · ΔE 4.2
- The End #2A2A2A · ΔE 4.2
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Noir is closest to Cinder .
FAQ
Noir FAQs
What color is Noir?
Noir is a dark brown with the hex code #312B27. In HSL terms it has a hue of 24°, 11% saturation, and 17% lightness.
What is the hex code for Noir?
The hex code for Noir is #312B27. In RGB it's rgb(49, 43, 39), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 12%, 20%, 81%).
What colors go well with Noir?
Noir pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony, and with cyan accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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