#121117 Hex Color
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This near-black violet feels dense and somber, pushing the boundaries of traditional dark purple. Its extreme darkness makes it an ideal, low-glare background for high-contrast UI elements. White text remains perfectly readable against this shade. The hex code for this color is #121117, a powerful choice for moody branding or sleek, minimalist dark mode interfaces where true black feels too aggressive.
Questions about #121117
What is #121117 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #121117 is rgb(18, 17, 23), in HSL hsl(250, 15%, 8%) and in CMYK 22%, 26%, 0%, 91%.
Is #121117 better than pure black for dark mode designs?
#121117 is often superior to pure black because it offers a softer, more sophisticated aesthetic that reduces eye strain while maintaining high contrast. By leaning into its subtle violet undertones, it feels more dimensional than a flat, aggressive black background.
Which color palettes pair well with the dark #121117?
This shade works beautifully when paired with cool, muted metallics or bright, high-contrast accents like crisp white or soft cream. Its deep, muted nature allows vibrant neons or jewel tones to pop significantly without competing for visual dominance.
Is #121117 readable on white or black?
#121117 has a 18.77:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.11:1 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.