Graphite Powder Color Palette
#D4D4D0 · #9E9E9A · #5E5E5A · #1A1A18
Use #D4D4D0 as the background. Use #9E9E9A as the primary accent. Use #5E5E5A as secondary. Use #1A1A18 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Graphite Powder — mono, moody, cool, vintage.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Graphite Powder 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: 65.6% | 212, 212, 208 | 0%, 0%, 2%, 17% | 60°, 4%, 82% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 34.1% | 158, 158, 154 | 0%, 0%, 3%, 38% | 60°, 2%, 61% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 11.1% | 94, 94, 90 | 0%, 0%, 4%, 63% | 60°, 2%, 36% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.0% | 26, 26, 24 | 0%, 0%, 8%, 90% | 60°, 4%, 10% |
Graphite Powder 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 Graphite Powder palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Graphite Powder 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1A1A18 on #D4D4D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.73:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #D4D4D0 on #1A1A18 |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.73:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #1A1A18 on #9E9E9A |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.48:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #9E9E9A on #1A1A18 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.48:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #5E5E5A on #D4D4D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.38:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #D4D4D0 on #5E5E5A |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.38:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #1A1A18 on #5E5E5A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.68:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5E5E5A on #1A1A18 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.68:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5E5E5A on #9E9E9A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.42:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #9E9E9A on #5E5E5A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.42:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #9E9E9A on #D4D4D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.81:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D4D4D0 on #9E9E9A |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.81:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Graphite Powder 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 Graphite Powder
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 #9E9E9A on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #9E9E9A — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Graphite Powder Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #9E9E9A for small UI elements on #D4D4D0 — at 1.8:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #1A1A18 — 11.7:1 against #D4D4D0 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #5E5E5A carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #9E9E9A.
How to Implement the Graphite Powder Color Scheme
To use this Graphite Powder 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 #D4D4D0 for the main background and #9E9E9A for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #1A1A18 and #D4D4D0 is 11.73:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Graphite Powder Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Graphite Powder color palette?
The Graphite Powder palette contains #D4D4D0, #9E9E9A, #5E5E5A, #1A1A18. 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 Graphite Powder color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #1A1A18 on #D4D4D0 reaches 11.7:1 (AAA). 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 Graphite Powder palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #9A9A9E, #9CA592, #151514 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 Graphite Powder palette create?
Graphite Powder reads as mono, moody, cool. Neutral gray drives the personality, grounded by neutral gray — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Graphite Powder color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Graphite Powder 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 Graphite Powder 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 Graphite Powder's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.