#AA9E9C Hex Color
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#aa9e9c is a dusty, ashy red with muted, earthy undertones. Because it sits between gray and desaturated red, it functions best as a supporting neutral rather than a high-energy accent. The hex code #aa9e9c pairs beautifully with deep charcoals, and black text achieves a strong 8.1:1 contrast ratio against it. Designers rely on this shade for sophisticated, professional UI backgrounds.
Questions about #aa9e9c
What is #aa9e9c in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #aa9e9c is rgb(170, 158, 156), in HSL hsl(9, 8%, 64%) and in CMYK 0%, 7%, 8%, 33%.
Does #aa9e9c lean warmer or cooler in a design context?
While #aa9e9c originates from the red family, its gray desaturation pulls it into a neutral territory that feels neither strictly warm nor cold. This balance makes it highly versatile, allowing it to anchor palettes containing terracotta or cooler slate blues without clashing.
What colors pair most effectively with #aa9e9c?
This muted shade excels when paired with high-contrast, deep neutrals like charcoal or near-black, which ground the color. For a softer approach, try combining #aa9e9c with crisp whites or desaturated olive greens to maintain its professional and understated aesthetic.
Is #aa9e9c readable on white or black?
#aa9e9c has a 2.59:1 contrast ratio on white and 8.08:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it is too faint for text and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.