#161609 Hex Color
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#161609 is an extremely dark, dusty yellow that leans closer to black than gold. Because of its near-black saturation, it serves as an excellent, moody background choice for high-contrast UI designs. White text remains perfectly legible against it, meeting all accessibility standards. Use this hex code as a base color when black feels too stark and you need an organic, shadowy depth.
Questions about #161609
What is #161609 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #161609 is rgb(22, 22, 9), in HSL hsl(60, 42%, 6%) and in CMYK 0%, 0%, 59%, 91%.
Is #161609 suitable for text in a user interface?
Yes, #161609 functions as an excellent dark background color that allows white text to remain perfectly legible and accessible. Because it contains a subtle yellow undertone, it feels warmer and more organic than a harsh, flat black.
What colors pair well with #161609?
To complement the earthy depth of #161609, try pairing it with muted sage or soft cream tones. This combination creates a sophisticated, grounded aesthetic that avoids the starkness often associated with standard black and white palettes.
Is #161609 readable on white or black?
#161609 has a 18.21:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.15:1 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.