Zaffre
High-impact blue with electric energy
Zaffre is a highly saturated, intense blue that demands attention. Because it is so vivid, it works best as a 10% accent rather than a full background to prevent visual fatigue. It pairs unexpectedly well with soft coral or cream tones for a modern look. The hex code for this powerful shade is #0014a8, offering excellent readability when used with white text.
About Zaffre
Deep water at the edge of night
What does zaffre mean?
Zaffre carries a cobalt glassmaking heritage and is commonly linked with depth, focus, and steady authority. Its heavy darkness and strong saturation make it feel sealed and enclosed, like pigment so dense it swallows light.
Where you see zaffre
- cobalt glass
- dip pen ink
- uniform jackets
- dark mode interfaces
- night skies
- blueprints
What it works for
Zaffre works as a footer background, a terminal theme base, or a bold brand color that stays serious.
What colors go with zaffre?
Jonquil #eef293Hot yellow sits against the cold depth for maximum pop.Beige #f5f5dcWarm off-white softens the intensity without diluting it.Coral #ff7f50Warm red-orange cuts through the chill like a signal flare.Gainsboro #dcdcdcClean gray gives the dark blue room to read as deep.Gold #ffd700Gold over deep blue is a classic heraldic pairing.Ruby #ca0147Berry red warms the palette while keeping it rich.
Questions about Zaffre
What is the hex code for Zaffre?
Zaffre is #0014a8. In RGB that is rgb(0, 20, 168), in HSL hsl(233, 100%, 33%) and in CMYK 100%, 88%, 0%, 34%.
How should I use Zaffre #0014a8 in my design layout?
Because #0014a8 is a highly saturated shade that demands visual attention, use it sparingly as a 10% accent color for buttons or icons. Using it as a background risks overwhelming the viewer and causing eye fatigue, so keep it limited to small, punchy elements for the best effect.
Is Zaffre readable on white or black?
Zaffre has a 12.60:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.66:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it is too faint for text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.