Sumi Ink
A dense and grounded stony grey
Sumi Ink is a dense, stony grey with a flat, light-absorbing quality. This neutral shade functions best as a solid base or a grounding contrast against bright accents. Because it offers strong readability with white text, it works well for interface typography or minimalist UI layouts. The hex code for this serious, professional color is #595857.
About Sumi Ink
Ink pooled in a cold stone dish
What does sumi ink mean?
This near-black grey commonly suggests ink, charcoal, concrete, and overcast weather. Its darkness reads as heavy and shut-in, while the near-zero saturation keeps it flat, steady, and free of any color pull.
Where you see sumi ink
- sumi ink
- charcoal pencils
- wet asphalt
- graphite powder
- cast iron pans
- slate roofs
What it works for
Ground text, UI frames, and shadow tones that read as grey rather than black, so adjacent colors keep their own weight.
What colors go with sumi ink?
Bone #e0d7c6The warm off-white lifts the grey without turning stark or clinical.Dusty Rose #b56f76A muted pink softens the sooty grey while both stay low in saturation.Brass #b5a642The metal's glow cuts through the darkness and adds warmth to flat grey.Sage #9caf88The desaturated green sits at a similar dimness, so neither color dominates.Marigold #fcc006A bright warm yellow gives this dark grey a clear, punchy accent.Terracotta #e2725bThe fired clay red warms the ashiness and reads earthy next to it.
Questions about Sumi Ink
What is the hex code for Sumi Ink?
Sumi Ink is #595857. In RGB that is rgb(89, 88, 87), in HSL hsl(30, 1%, 35%) and in CMYK 0%, 1%, 2%, 65%.
Why is Sumi Ink #595857 effective for interface text?
Sumi Ink #595857 provides excellent readability against white or light backgrounds because of its dense, flat pigment quality. It functions as a softer, less harsh alternative to pure black while maintaining the professional contrast required for long-form reading.
Is Sumi Ink readable on white or black?
Sumi Ink has a 7.09:1 contrast ratio on white and 2.95:1 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.