Smalt

#003399

Also known as: US Air Force Blue , Dark Seashore Night , North Star Blue , Egyptian Blue

Few blues feel this vivid. Smalt leans cool and calm and trustworthy, which points it toward trust-driven interfaces and corporate branding. Match it with brown accents when the design calls for energy over calm. Accessibility-wise, it clears AA for text on white at 10.86:1.

Reference

Smalt color codes

HEX: #003399
RGB: rgb(0, 51, 153)
RGBA: rgba(0, 51, 153, 1)
HSL: hsl(220, 100%, 30%)
HSV: hsv(220, 100%, 60%)
CMYK: cmyk(100%, 67%, 0%, 40%)
LAB: lab(24.7 21.0 -60.7)
OKLCH: oklch(37.1% 0.173 262.1)

Analysis

Color intelligence

sRGB safe

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

The subtle secondary bias in a color that seems neutral. A gray can have a blue or green undertone; a white can lean warm or cool. Undertones decide whether two near-neutrals clash or agree.Full glossary entry →

CoolWarm

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 →

CSS: darkslateblue #483D8B · ΔE 8.2
RAL 5002: Ultramarine blue #2B2C7C · ΔE 5.8 · 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 Smalt 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: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
Branding: The safest brand-primary family there is; differentiate with an unexpected accent.
Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette: packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.

Copy as: every ecosystem

Variations

Tints, shades, and tones of Smalt

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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)

Tones (muted)

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 →

Palettes built from Smalt 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 10.86:1

AA pass AAA pass AA large pass

Aa on black

contrast 1.93:1

AA fail AAA fail AA large fail

Best text color on a Smalt background: #ffffff

Palettes

Palettes featuring Smalt

Smalt with its complement

Soft neighbors of Smalt

Smalt triad

Explore

Similar colors

Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Smalt is closest to Pineapple .

FAQ

Smalt FAQs

What color is Smalt?

Smalt is a dark blue with the hex code #003399. In HSL terms it has a hue of 220°, 100% saturation, and 30% lightness.

What is the hex code for Smalt?

The hex code for Smalt is #003399. In RGB it's rgb(0, 51, 153), and in CMYK it's cmyk(100%, 67%, 0%, 40%).

What colors go well with Smalt?

Smalt pairs naturally with brown tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.

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