Abyssal Plain Color Palette
#2E4A62 · #16283C · #4E6E8A · #0A1420
Use #2E4A62 as the background. Use #16283C as the primary accent. Use #4E6E8A as secondary. Use #0A1420 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Abyssal Plain — ocean, night, moody, cool.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Abyssal Plain color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 6.4% | 46, 74, 98 | 53%, 24%, 0%, 62% | 208°, 36%, 28% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 2.0% | 22, 40, 60 | 63%, 33%, 0%, 76% | 212°, 46%, 16% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 14.6% | 78, 110, 138 | 43%, 20%, 0%, 46% | 208°, 28%, 42% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 0.7% | 10, 20, 32 | 69%, 38%, 0%, 87% | 213°, 52%, 8% |
Abyssal Plain Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Abyssal Plain palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Abyssal Plain Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #0A1420 on #4E6E8A |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.46:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #4E6E8A on #0A1420 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.46:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #4E6E8A on #16283C |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.80:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #16283C on #4E6E8A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.80:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0A1420 on #2E4A62 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.00:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2E4A62 on #0A1420 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.00:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4E6E8A on #2E4A62 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.73:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2E4A62 on #4E6E8A |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.73:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #16283C on #2E4A62 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.62:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2E4A62 on #16283C |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.62:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0A1420 on #16283C |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.24:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #16283C on #0A1420 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.24:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Abyssal Plain palette is built using a analogous relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Best Design Use Cases
Industries This Palette Suits
Colors That Pair Well With Abyssal Plain
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
directly opposite #16283C on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #16283C — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Abyssal Plain Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #16283C for small UI elements on #2E4A62 — at 1.6:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #0A1420 on #2E4A62 — 2.0:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Let #4E6E8A carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #16283C.
How to Implement the Abyssal Plain Color Scheme
To use this Abyssal Plain color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'} Web Design Tip
Use #2E4A62 for the main background and #16283C for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #0A1420 and #2E4A62 is 2.00:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Abyssal Plain Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Abyssal Plain color palette?
The Abyssal Plain palette contains #2E4A62, #16283C, #4E6E8A, #0A1420. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Abyssal Plain color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #0A1420 on #4E6E8A reaches 3.5:1 (Fail). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Abyssal Plain palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #825C30, #1B1A37, #ECEDEF extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Abyssal Plain palette create?
Abyssal Plain reads as ocean, night, moody. Gently saturated cyan-blue drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated cyan-blue — a combination that works best when the mid-tone base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Abyssal Plain color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Abyssal Plain palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Abyssal Plain palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Abyssal Plain's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.