Obsidian Color Psychology & Meaning
Obsidian is volcanic glass as color system — these dark charcoal-blacks with warm undertones signal geological permanence and the specific luxury of materials formed by extreme natural processes.
#0A0808
#2A1818
#6A4848
#D8C0C0
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Obsidian 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: 0.3% | 10, 8, 8 | 0%, 20%, 20%, 96% | 0°, 11%, 4% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 1.2% | 42, 24, 24 | 0%, 43%, 43%, 84% | 0°, 27%, 13% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 8.2% | 106, 72, 72 | 0%, 32%, 32%, 58% | 0°, 19%, 35% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 56.1% | 216, 192, 192 | 0%, 11%, 11%, 15% | 0°, 24%, 80% |
Obsidian 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 Obsidian palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#0A0808 muted red
#2A1818 gently saturated red
#6A4848 muted red
#D8C0C0 muted red
Obsidian 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #D8C0C0 on #0A0808 |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.63:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #0A0808 on #D8C0C0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.63:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #D8C0C0 on #2A1818 |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.84:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #2A1818 on #D8C0C0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.84:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #D8C0C0 on #6A4848 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.64:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #6A4848 on #D8C0C0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.64:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #6A4848 on #0A0808 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.51:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0A0808 on #6A4848 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.51:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #6A4848 on #2A1818 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.12:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2A1818 on #6A4848 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.12:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2A1818 on #0A0808 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.18:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0A0808 on #2A1818 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.18:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Obsidian 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.
Hue Wheel
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Obsidian (volcanic glass) has been used as a material since prehistoric times. Its visual qualities — deep black with warm undertone — have influenced luxury product and interior design.
Best Design Use Cases
Darkest near-black for backgrounds. Dark warm-gray for surfaces. Mid warm-gray for interactive. Rose-gray for text on dark.
Industries This Palette Suits
Luxury brands, premium fashion, volcanic products, high-end jewelry.
Colors That Pair Well With Obsidian
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.
teal
directly opposite #2A1818 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
orange
30° beside #2A1818 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Obsidian Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #2A1818 for small UI elements on #0A0808 — at 1.2:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #D8C0C0 — 11.6:1 against #0A0808 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #6A4848 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #2A1818.
How to Implement the Obsidian Color Scheme
To use this Obsidian 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 #0A0808 for the main background and #2A1818 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #D8C0C0 and #0A0808 is 11.63:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Obsidian Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Obsidian color palette?
The Obsidian palette contains #0A0808, #2A1818, #6A4848, #D8C0C0. 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 Obsidian color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #D8C0C0 on #0A0808 reaches 11.6:1 (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 Obsidian palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #417171, #27211C, #EEECEC 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 Obsidian palette create?
Obsidian reads as dark, volcanic, premium. Gently saturated red drives the personality, grounded by muted red — a combination that works best when the deep base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Obsidian color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Obsidian 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 Obsidian 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 Obsidian's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.