Rich Black
HEX: #004040 | Modern Palette
Color Specifications
#004040
0, 64, 64
180°, 100% ,25%
100, 0, 0, 74.9
About Rich Black
Rich Black (#004040) is a color with RGB(0, 64, 64) and HSL(180°, 100%, 25.1%). It is commonly associated with Bold, Luxury moods. In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #400000, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #400040 and #404000. The name comes from Rich Black (English).
- HEX: #004040
- RGB: 0, 64, 64
- HSL: 180°, 100%, 25.1%
- Mood: Bold, Luxury
- Style: Cool
- Use case: Text, Button, Accent
- Complementary color: #400000
- Triadic colors: #400040, #404000
- The name comes from Rich Black (English).
Live Components
Color Palettes
Color Harmonies
Complementary
The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.
Analogous
Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
Triadic
Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.
Split-Complementary
Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.
Tetradic (Square)
Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.
Monochromatic
Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.
Shades & Tints
A seamless scale of #004040 from deepest shade to lightest tint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Name, History & Etymology
History
Before CMYK printing became standard, black was typically just black ink. With the advent of process printing, where colors are created by combining cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK), it was discovered that 100% black ink often appeared as a dark gray rather than a true, deep black, especially on certain papers or under specific lighting. To counteract this, printers and designers began experimenting with adding small percentages of cyan, magenta, and/or yellow to the 100% black ink. This technique, which became known as 'rich black,' allowed for a much deeper, more opaque, and visually satisfying black. Different formulas for rich black exist, with common ones including C60 M40 Y40 K100 or C30 M20 Y20 K100, depending on the desired effect and the printing process. The specific color #004040 is a very dark teal or a black with a strong cyan/green undertone, which could be one interpretation of a 'rich black' aiming for a cool, deep tone, though it's not a standard CMYK rich black formula itself but rather an RGB representation of a very dark color.
First Recorded Use
The concept and term 'rich black' emerged with the widespread adoption of four-color process printing (CMYK) in the latter half of the 20th century, particularly as designers and printers sought to achieve a deeper, more saturated black than could be produced with 100% black ink alone. Specific early documented uses are hard to pinpoint to a single instance, but it became common terminology in graphic design and printing guides from the 1980s and 1990s onwards.
Cultural Associations
In graphic design and printing, 'rich black' is a fundamental concept taught to students and used by professionals. It's crucial for achieving high-quality print results, especially for large areas of black, text, or images where a deep, impactful black is desired. The choice of rich black formula can subtly influence the overall feel of a printed piece; for example, a rich black with more cyan might feel cooler, while one with more magenta might feel warmer. It's a technical term primarily understood within the design and print industries.
Code Snippets
/* Background */
.element {
background-color: #004040;
}
/* Text */
.element {
color: #004040;
}
/* Border */
.element {
border: 1px solid #004040;
}/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
background: linear-gradient(
to right,
#004040,
#800000
);
}
/* Radial gradient */
.element {
background: radial-gradient(
circle,
#004040,
#800000
);
}// SCSS variable
$rich-black: #004040;
// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$rich-black-r: 0;
$rich-black-g: 64;
$rich-black-b: 64;
// Usage
.element {
background-color: $rich-black;
color: rgba($rich-black-r, $rich-black-g, $rich-black-b, 0.8);
}