Smalt
General Information about Smalt (#042597)
The hex color code #042597 represents a dark shade of blue, specifically classified as Smalt. Smalt is a historical blue pigment made from potassium glass colored with cobalt. In the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color model, #042597 is composed of 1.57% red, 14.51% green, and 59.22% blue. Converting it to the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) color model, it consists of 97% cyan, 75% magenta, 0% yellow, and 41% black. This color possesses a low saturation and luminance, contributing to its deep and muted appearance. It is often associated with feelings of trust, intelligence, authority, and stability. Smalt's historical use as a pigment highlights its durability and timeless appeal, making it a valuable color reference in design and art.
The color #042597, a deep shade of blue reminiscent of smalt pigment, presents unique accessibility considerations. Its low luminance value (relative luminance around 0.006) necessitates careful pairing with text and interactive elements. When used as a background, it demands high-contrast text (white or light shades of yellow or green) to ensure readability, meeting WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) AA or AAA standards. A contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text is crucial. Avoid using this color for small text or intricate graphical details, as it can strain visibility, especially for users with visual impairments. When using it for interactive elements, provide sufficient visual cues beyond color alone, such as icons or text labels, to ensure usability for color-blind users. Ensuring proper ARIA attributes for interactive elements on the page also benefits people with accessibility concerns. A thorough accessibility audit using tools like WAVE or Axe is recommended when incorporating this color into a website or application.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
Applications
Website Design
Smalt (#042597) lends itself well to creating a sense of depth and sophistication in website designs. It can be effectively used for website headers, footers, or sidebars to establish a strong visual identity. When coupled with lighter hues or contrasting colors for text and interactive elements, it creates an engaging user experience. The color can also be used for informational panels or to highlight certain parts of a webpage.
Data Visualization
In the realm of data visualization, Smalt (#042597) can be employed to represent certain types of data. The color's dark nature makes it ideal to represent categories of significant magnitude. It would be prudent to have well contrasted colors representing smaller magnitudes. This can be used to create effective bar charts, pie charts, and other visual representations of datasets.
Fashion Design
Smalt adds a dramatic flair to garments. This is useful when designing an outfit for a formal or special event. Accessorizing the rest of the outfit with neutral colors such as silver or white will draw the eye to the smalt color. It may also be wise to use white or light shades of yellow or green on other parts of the garment to improve accessibility by improving contrast.