Black
Signal Black (RAL 9004)
Signal Black (RAL 9004)
#282828Click to copy
Signal Black (RAL 9004) Parameter Conversion Table
More converters →HEX#282828Copy
RGBrgb(40, 40, 40)Copy
HSLhsl(0, 0%, 16%)Copy
HSV/HSBhsv(0, 0%, 16%)Copy
CMYKcmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 84%)Copy
Signal Black (RAL 9004) Color Schemes
Complementary
#282828
Click to copy#282828
Click to copyAnalogous
#282828
Click to copy#282828
Click to copySplit Complementary
#282828
Click to copy#282828
Click to copyMonochromatic
#282828
Click to copy#5B5B5B
Click to copy#8E8E8E
Click to copy#000000
Click to copy#000000
Click to copy#000000
Click to copySignal Black (RAL 9004) WCAG Accessibility Contrast
WCAG Calculator →The contrast ratio of this color against common foreground/background colors (based on the WCAG 2.1 standard)
Sample text Aa
White background #FFFFFF
14.74 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Black background #000000
1.42 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Light gray background #F5F5F5
13.52 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Dark gray background #333333
1.17 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Signal Black (RAL 9004) Shade Variants
Gradient Generator →Lighten with White Mixed with white for a lighter, softer color
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Darken with Black Mixed with black for a deeper, heavier color
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Muted / Morandi Mixed with gray and desaturated for a sophisticated muted tone
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Signal Black (RAL 9004) Color Introduction
Definition
Signal Black (RAL 9004) (HEX #282828) has the RGB value rgb(40, 40, 40), the HSL value hsl(0°, 0%, 16%) and the CMYK print value cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 84%). In terms of color schemes, the complement of Signal Black (RAL 9004) is #282828, and placing the two side by side produces a striking, eye-catching contrast; paired with the analogous colors #282828 and #282828 that sit next to it on the color wheel, it transitions naturally and harmoniously; in a split-complementary scheme (#282828, #282828) it keeps its contrast tension without losing layering; and a monochromatic scheme built on Signal Black (RAL 9004) uses gradients of lightness and saturation to create a unified design with a strong sense of depth. Under the WCAG accessibility standard, Signal Black (RAL 9004) has a contrast ratio of 14.74:1 against white and 1.42:1 against black; paired with a white background it reaches AAA, making body text highly readable.
Color Characteristics
Pairings of black and white carry no interference from any color tendency, letting the content itself take center stage — which is why they are regarded as classics in premium branding and minimalist design. Specifically, Signal Black (RAL 9004) has a lightness of 16% and a saturation of 0%, steady and powerful as a background or primary color, pairing well with light text for good readability; moreover, it contains almost no chromatic content, giving it a restrained, understated character that makes it ideal for creating a premium feel and a sense of space. In a word: A black used for signal identification.
Color Psychology
Psychologically, black-and-white palettes represent the ultimate and an attitude; they strip away emotional noise and express sophistication and modernity in the purest way. For this reason Signal Black (RAL 9004) tends to leave a first impression of being pure and powerful in the viewer’s mind, and this emotional tone also defines the role it plays in design.
Best Uses
Black-and-white palettes are commonly used for large headlines, logos and generous negative-space layouts; a monochrome base with a single bright accent immediately creates a strong modern feel. In real projects, Signal Black (RAL 9004) is also often used as a dark background or heading text color; in “Black & White”-themed designs, the adjacent colors or lightness gradients built around it quickly establish a cohesive, clearly layered color scheme.
Signal Black (RAL 9004) Featured In
This color is included in the following color cards and color families. Click a card to browse more colors in the corresponding collection.