Smalt

HEX: #003399 | Modern Palette

On White
10.86:1
PASS
On Black
1.93:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#003399
RGB
0, 51, 153
HSL
220°, 100% ,60%
CMYK
100, 66.67, 0, 40

About Smalt

Smalt (#003399) is a color with RGB(0, 51, 153) and HSL(220°, 100%, 60%). It is commonly associated with Bold, Playful moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Neon styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is Gamboge Orange (brown) (#996600), which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #990033 and #339900. The name comes from schmalz (Germanic (via Italian)).

  • HEX: #003399
  • RGB: 0, 51, 153
  • HSL: 220°, 100%, 60%
  • Mood: Bold, Playful
  • Style: Vivid, Neon
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: Gamboge Orange (brown) (#996600)
  • Triadic colors: #990033, #339900
  • The name comes from schmalz (Germanic (via Italian)).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Smalt #003399 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
SMALT
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
SMALT
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Smalt #003399 pairs with Gamboge Orange (brown) (#996600) as its complementary color, and #990033 and #339900 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

SMALT
GAMBOGE ORANGE (BROWN)
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

SMALT
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

SMALT
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

SMALT
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

SMALT
GAMBOGE ORANGE (BROWN)
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

SMALT

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Smalt #003399 moves from dark #00091A tones through the base color to lighter #E6EEFF tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

SMALT

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold Playful
Style
Vivid Neon
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #2A2A99
Protanopia #303099
Tritanopia #004A4A
Achromatopsia #3D3D3D

Frequently Asked Questions

Smalt (#003399) is a color with RGB(0, 51, 153) and HSL(220°, 100%, 60%).

#003399 pairs strongly with Gamboge Orange (brown) (#996600) as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#003399 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Neon styles.

#003399 is commonly associated with Bold, Playful.

The name Smalt is linked to schmalz from Germanic (via Italian), meaning Derived from a word referring to something melted or smelted, specifically glass..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word schmalz
Meaning Derived from a word referring to something melted or smelted, specifically glass.
Language Germanic (via Italian)
First Recorded Use Late Middle Ages

History

Smalt is a deep blue pigment made from ground cobalt glass, first produced in Bohemia in the 15th century. It was a cheaper alternative to ultramarine and was widely used in European painting from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Its use declined with the advent of Prussian blue and other synthetic pigments in the 18th and 19th centuries. Smalt is known for its tendency to lose intensity over time, especially in oil mediums.

First Recorded Use

The term 'smalt' for the pigment itself emerged in the late 15th or early 16th century, though the material's use predates this specific naming.

Cultural Associations

Historically, smalt was significant for its accessibility and vibrant blue hue, making it a staple in religious art and decorative applications. Its presence in paintings often indicates a specific period of artistic practice before more stable blue pigments became common. The pigment's fading properties have sometimes altered the intended appearance of historical artworks.

Similar Named Colors
Air Force Blue (USAF) #00308F ΔE 1.56
Egyptian Blue #1034A6 ΔE 2.19
Royal Azure #0038A8 ΔE 2.38
UA Blue #0033AA ΔE 2.53

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #003399;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #003399;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #003399;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #003399,
        #FFBB33
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #003399,
        #FFBB33
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$smalt: #003399;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$smalt-r: 0;
$smalt-g: 51;
$smalt-b: 153;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $smalt;
    color: rgba($smalt-r, $smalt-g, $smalt-b, 0.8);
}