#231C18 Hex Color
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A dark, muted brown with ashy gray undertones, #231c18 creates a gloomy, grounded mood without looking black. Its low lightness suits coffee, chocolate, tobacco, artisan, and vintage branding, especially as a supporting tone or dark background. Pair it with warm cream for readable contrast; white text achieves about 16.8:1 contrast. The hex code is #231c18.
Questions about #231c18
What is #231c18 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #231c18 is rgb(35, 28, 24), in HSL hsl(22, 19%, 12%) and in CMYK 0%, 20%, 31%, 86%.
What colors pair well with #231c18?
#231c18 pairs well with warm cream, muted tan, copper, and restrained terracotta, creating enough contrast to lift its ashy brown base while preserving the grounded, vintage mood that makes this shade feel distinctive.
Does #231c18 read as warm or cool?
#231c18 reads as a muted warm brown overall, but its ashy gray undertones soften the warmth, giving it the quiet, restrained presence of a dark neutral rather than a reddish or strongly earthy brown.
Is #231c18 readable on white or black?
#231c18 has a 16.78:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.25:1 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.