Charade
General Information about #283139
The hexadecimal color code #283139, also known as Charade, is a dark, muted shade of gray. It is composed of 15.7% red, 19.2% green, and 22.4% blue. In the RGB color space, it is relatively low in all three components, contributing to its dark appearance. This color can be described as a deep, charcoal-like gray with subtle hints of blue, giving it a cool and sophisticated tone. The color is often associated with elegance, neutrality, and a sense of understated style. Due to its darkness, #283139 can serve as an excellent backdrop for brighter colors, allowing them to pop and draw attention. It's commonly found in designs aiming for a modern or minimalist aesthetic.
The hex color #283139, also known as Charade, presents certain accessibility challenges, especially in text and user interface design. Its low luminance value of approximately 3.27 cd/m² means that it falls short of the WCAG's minimum contrast ratio requirements against white or other light backgrounds. For text to be legible, a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 is recommended for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Given the darkness of #283139, it is crucial to pair it with very light colors such as whites, creams, or very light grays to ensure sufficient contrast. When using this color for interactive elements, consider adding hover or focus states that significantly lighten the color to provide visual feedback and improve accessibility. Thoroughly testing color combinations with accessibility tools is essential to ensure usability for users with visual impairments.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
- #384149
A slightly lighter shade that offers improved contrast while maintaining a similar aesthetic.
- #485159
A gray that provides a neutral background option with better readability when paired with lighter text.
- #586169
A lighter alternative to improve legibility when using it as a background color for text.
Applications
Website Design
Charade (#283139) can serve as an excellent base for creating a sophisticated and professional website design. It works exceptionally well for headers, footers, and sidebars, providing a dark backdrop that makes lighter content stand out. When used in conjunction with complementary colors, #283139 can bring a sense of depth and visual interest to the overall design. The key is to balance its darkness with enough bright elements and ample white space to ensure readability and a user-friendly interface. It's also suitable for highlighting key calls to action or important information.
Interior and Fashion Design
In interior design, #283139 can be used to create a modern and elegant space. It works well as an accent color on walls or furniture, providing a contrasting element against lighter backgrounds. In fashion, this color can be used for sophisticated and formal wear, either as a main color or as an accent in accessories. It is a versatile color that can be combined with various textures and materials to create different effects, from luxurious to minimalist.
Graphic Design
In graphic design, Charade is an great color to be used for backgrounds, infographics, and data visualization, as it has an professional feel. It pairs well with brighter colors to create contrast and hierarchy, ensuring that key information stands out. When choosing fonts, it is important to select a typeface that has good readability against this dark background, such as sans-serif fonts in light colors. It can also be used in branding to convey a sense of professionalism, reliability, and sophistication.