Matte Black
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Matte black is a flat and dull shade of black, lacking any shine or glitter. The color is associated with authority and a desire for control. The hex code for matte black is #28282b.
About Matte Black
Charcoal dust settled on a photographer's lightbox
What does matte black mean?
Matte Black often reads as restraint, formality, and shadow, and it commonly carries quieter, more somber associations than pure black. Its near-total lack of saturation and trace of blue make it feel heavy, still, and dim, like a room after dusk.
Where you see matte black
- cast iron skillet
- chalkboard
- charcoal pencil
- wet asphalt
- vinyl record
- typewriter ribbon
What it works for
Use it for dark interface backgrounds, moody product photography backdrops, text on light surfaces, and flat areas that should recede.
What colors go with matte black?
Cream #fffdd0The warm lightness of cream offsets this color's dimness without glaring against it.Mustard #ffdb58Mustard's muted yellow adds just enough warmth to keep the grey from turning cold.Dusty Rose #b56f76Dusty rose softens the gloom with a faded warmth that never turns sugary.Sage #9caf88Sage's greyed green sits at a similar temperature, so the pairing feels settled.Terracotta #e2725bTerracotta's earthy red-orange cuts through the darkness with grounded, natural heat.Slate Blue #6a5acdSlate blue echoes the faint blue cast here, deepening the cool, ashy mood.
Questions about Matte Black
What is the hex code for Matte Black?
Matte Black is #28282b. In RGB that is rgb(40, 40, 43), in HSL hsl(240, 4%, 16%) and in CMYK 7%, 7%, 0%, 83%.
Is Matte Black readable on white or black?
Matte Black has a 14.69:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.42:1 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.