Shadow

HEX: #8A795D | Modern Palette

On White
4.22:1
FAIL
On Black
4.97:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#8A795D
RGB
138, 121, 93
HSL
37°, 32% ,54%
CMYK
0, 12.32, 32.61, 45.88

About Shadow

Shadow (#8A795D) is a color with RGB(138, 121, 93) and HSL(37.33°, 32.61%, 54.12%). It is commonly associated with Earthy moods. In design, it fits Muted, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Print. Its complementary color is #5D6E8A, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #5D8A79 and #795D8A. The name comes from sceadu (Old English).

  • HEX: #8A795D
  • RGB: 138, 121, 93
  • HSL: 37.33°, 32.61%, 54.12%
  • Mood: Earthy
  • Style: Muted, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Print
  • Complementary color: #5D6E8A
  • Triadic colors: #5D8A79, #795D8A
  • The name comes from sceadu (Old English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Shadow #8A795D 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.
 
 
SHADOW
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
SHADOW
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
SHADOW
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Shadow #8A795D pairs with #5D6E8A as its complementary color, and #5D8A79 and #795D8A 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.

SHADOW
Analogous

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

SHADOW
Triadic

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

SHADOW
Split-Complementary

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

SHADOW
Tetradic (Square)

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

SHADOW
Monochromatic

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

SHADOW

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Shadow #8A795D moves from dark #0F0D0A tones through the base color to lighter #F5F3F0 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

SHADOW

Color Characteristics

Mood
Earthy
Style
Muted Warm
Use case
Text Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #7E7E5C
Protanopia #7B7B5D
Tritanopia #8D7676
Achromatopsia #7B7B7B

Frequently Asked Questions

Shadow (#8A795D) is a color with RGB(138, 121, 93) and HSL(37.33°, 32.61%, 54.12%).

#8A795D pairs strongly with #5D6E8A as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#8A795D is suitable for Text, Print and works well with Muted, Warm styles.

#8A795D is commonly associated with Earthy.

The name Shadow is linked to sceadu from Old English, meaning shade, darkness, dark area.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word sceadu
Meaning shade, darkness, dark area
Language Old English
First Recorded Use Before 900 AD

History

The word 'shadow' has a long and consistent history in the English language. It derives from the Old English 'sceadu', which itself comes from Proto-Germanic '*skadwaz' (meaning 'shadow, shade'). This Proto-Germanic root is also the source for similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German 'scato' (German 'Schatten'), Old Norse 'skuggi' (Swedish 'skugga'), and Gothic 'skadus'. The meaning has remained largely consistent over centuries, referring to a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface. Over time, it developed figurative meanings related to gloom, a faint trace, or an inseparable companion.

First Recorded Use

The word 'sceadu' is found in Old English texts dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period.

Cultural Associations

Shadows hold significant cultural and symbolic weight across various societies. They are often associated with the unknown, the subconscious, mystery, and the darker aspects of human nature (as in Jungian psychology's 'shadow self'). In literature and art, shadows are used to create mood, depth, and symbolism, representing everything from death and fear to protection and hidden truths. Mythologies often feature shadow creatures or spirits. The concept of a 'shadow' also extends to political and social contexts, such as 'shadow governments' or 'living in the shadow of' a powerful figure or event.

Similar Named Colors
Gold Fusion #85754E ΔE 4.22
French Bistre #856D4D ΔE 5.20
Pale Brown #987654 ΔE 6.53
Dark Tan #918151 ΔE 6.59

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #8A795D;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #8A795D;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #8A795D;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #8A795D,
        #6481B0
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #8A795D,
        #6481B0
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$shadow: #8A795D;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$shadow-r: 138;
$shadow-g: 121;
$shadow-b: 93;

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