HomeColor Encyclopedia
Black / Neutral · 🇯🇵 和色

墨 (Sumi)

#1C1C1C

A deep neutral black with warm undertones. A traditional Japanese color (和色) with deep cultural roots in kimono, ink painting, and seasonal aesthetics.

Generate palette with this color →

Emotion & Mood

Emotion
MysteriousSubtleWarm
Mood
IntenseContemplative

Personality & Symbolism

ReservedThoughtfulRefined
Cultural Symbolism

Rooted in Japanese culture, nature, and seasonal beauty.

Recommended Use

Suitable for backgrounds and subtle design elements.

Color Harmonies

Complementary
#1C1C1C
+
#1c1c1c
Split Complementary
#1c1c1c
#1C1C1C
#1c1c1c
Darker Shades
Lighter Tints

Visual Analysis

Hue0°
Saturation0%
Lightness11%
This is a dark color with low saturation. It falls in the red hue family (0°).

Technical Values

HEX#1C1C1C
RGBrgb(28, 28, 28)
HSLhsl(0, 0%, 11%)
CMYK0%, 0%, 0%, 89%
ContrastDark
CSSbackground: #1C1C1C;

Accessibility — WCAG Contrast

White Text Sample
The quick brown fox jumps.
17.04:1
AA AAA
Black Text Sample
The quick brown fox jumps.
1.23:1
AA AAA

WCAG 2.1 requires a contrast ratio of ≥4.5:1 for AA (normal text) and ≥7:1 for AAA. Best text color for this background: white (#FFFFFF).

Color Psychology

Color Temperature

This warm-toned color (hue 0°) triggers psychological responses associated with energy, comfort, and action. Warm colors appear to advance towards the viewer, making elements feel closer and more prominent.

Visual Weight

At 11% lightness, this color carries substantial visual weight. Dark colors add perceived importance and gravity to elements. Research shows dark elements are perceived as 10-30% heavier.

Saturation Impact

The low saturation (0%) gives this color a muted, sophisticated quality. Desaturated colors reduce cognitive load and are associated with professionalism and maturity in design research.

Design Applications

Food & Beverage

Stimulates appetite and conveys urgency — ideal for restaurant branding, food packaging, and sale promotions.

Health & Vitality

Represents life energy and passion — great for fitness brands, health apps, and wellness products.

Dark Theme & UI

Deep tones reduce eye strain in dark mode — perfect for code editors, media players, and night-mode interfaces.

Similar Colors

Greyish Gray (or Stony Grey)
#919191
Grayish Lavender
#998F8F
Dark Grayish Adamsite (Fictional name, based on the hex code)
#ADADAD
Light Greyish Beige
#E1DEDE
Light Beige
#FBF2F2
梅鼠 (Umenezumi)
#9E7A7A
鴇 (Toki)
#EEA9A9
鉛 (Namari)
#787878