Plant
Black-White Composite
Black-White Composite
#404040Click to copy
Black-White Composite Parameter Conversion Table
More converters →HEX#404040Copy
RGBrgb(64, 64, 64)Copy
HSLhsl(0, 0%, 25%)Copy
HSV/HSBhsv(0, 0%, 25%)Copy
CMYKcmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 75%)Copy
Black-White Composite Color Schemes
Complementary
#404040
Click to copy#404040
Click to copyAnalogous
#404040
Click to copy#404040
Click to copySplit Complementary
#404040
Click to copy#404040
Click to copyMonochromatic
#404040
Click to copy#737373
Click to copy#A6A6A6
Click to copy#0D0D0D
Click to copy#000000
Click to copy#000000
Click to copyBlack-White Composite 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
10.37 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Black background #000000
2.03 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Light gray background #F5F5F5
9.51 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Dark gray background #333333
1.22 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Black-White Composite 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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Black-White Composite Color Introduction
Definition
Black-White Composite (HEX #404040) has the RGB value rgb(64, 64, 64), the HSL value hsl(0°, 0%, 25%) and the CMYK print value cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 75%). In terms of color schemes, the complement of Black-White Composite is #404040, and placing the two side by side produces a striking, eye-catching contrast; paired with the analogous colors #404040 and #404040 that sit next to it on the color wheel, it transitions naturally and harmoniously; in a split-complementary scheme (#404040, #404040) it keeps its contrast tension without losing layering; and a monochromatic scheme built on Black-White Composite uses gradients of lightness and saturation to create a unified design with a strong sense of depth. Under the WCAG accessibility standard, Black-White Composite has a contrast ratio of 10.37:1 against white and 2.03:1 against black; paired with a white background it reaches AAA, making body text highly readable.
Color Characteristics
Gray offers an exceptionally rich range of lightness levels, from silver to charcoal, each with its own character; it is a core color in modern minimalist design and industrial style. Specifically, Black-White Composite has a lightness of 25% 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 composite color combining black and white, seen in some plant seeds and petal markings.
Color Psychology
Psychologically, gray stands for balance and restraint. Used well it creates a refined, calm atmosphere, but in large areas it can also feel dull and needs lightness variation to keep it lively. For this reason Black-White Composite tends to leave a first impression of being calm and restrained in the viewer’s mind, and this emotional tone also defines the role it plays in design.
Best Uses
Gray is commonly used for secondary text, dividers, disabled states and card backgrounds — an indispensable structural color for building interface hierarchy. In real projects, Black-White Composite is also often used as a dark background or heading text color; in “Gray”-themed designs, the adjacent colors or lightness gradients built around it quickly establish a cohesive, clearly layered color scheme.
Black-White Composite 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.
