Phthalo Green Color Psychology & Meaning
Phthalo green is the intense blue-green of deep forest shadow and ocean water. It is so powerful that it dominates any mixture, which makes it a color for brands that want their green to be unmistakable.
#123524
#1E7A4A
#4FB06D
#0A1F14
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Phthalo Green Color Palette
#123524 · #1E7A4A · #4FB06D · #0A1F14
Fail
WCAG Grade
1.3:1
Contrast Ratio
1,040
Saves
2,810
AI Copies
Use #123524 as the background. Use #1E7A4A as the primary accent. Use #4FB06D as secondary. Use #0A1F14 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Phthalo Green — deep, natural, bold.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Phthalo Green 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: 2.8% | 18, 53, 36 | 66%, 0%, 32%, 79% | 151°, 49%, 14% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 14.7% | 30, 122, 74 | 75%, 0%, 39%, 52% | 149°, 61%, 30% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 33.8% | 79, 176, 109 | 55%, 0%, 38%, 31% | 139°, 38%, 50% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.1% | 10, 31, 20 | 68%, 0%, 35%, 88% | 149°, 51%, 8% |
Phthalo Green 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 Phthalo Green palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#123524 gently saturated teal
#1E7A4A gently saturated green
#4FB06D gently saturated green
#0A1F14 gently saturated green
Phthalo Green 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #0A1F14 on #4FB06D |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.37:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #4FB06D on #0A1F14 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.37:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #4FB06D on #123524 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.98:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #123524 on #4FB06D |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.98:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #0A1F14 on #1E7A4A |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.23:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #1E7A4A on #0A1F14 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.23:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #1E7A4A on #123524 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.52:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #123524 on #1E7A4A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.52:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4FB06D on #1E7A4A |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.97:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1E7A4A on #4FB06D |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.97:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0A1F14 on #123524 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.28:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #123524 on #0A1F14 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.28:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Phthalo Green 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
Phthalo green was synthesized in the 1930s and became the standard intense green of the modern era. Artists discovered that a tiny amount colors an entire canvas, giving it a reputation as the most staining of pigments.
Best Design Use Cases
Use phthalo green for brand surfaces that must feel deeply green, like environmental hero sections. The mid green carries interactive elements, while the near-black green grounds text and footers.
Industries This Palette Suits
Environmental, outdoor gear, botanical, agriculture, finance green brands.
Colors That Pair Well With Phthalo Green
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.
magenta
directly opposite #1E7A4A on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
teal
30° beside #1E7A4A — 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 Phthalo Green Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #1E7A4A for small UI elements on #123524 — at 2.5:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #0A1F14 on #123524 — 1.3:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Let #4FB06D carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #1E7A4A.
How to Implement the Phthalo Green Color Scheme
To use this Phthalo Green 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 #123524 for the main background and #1E7A4A for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #0A1F14 and #123524 is 1.28:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Phthalo Green Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Phthalo Green color palette?
The Phthalo Green palette contains #123524, #1E7A4A, #4FB06D, #0A1F14. 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 Phthalo Green color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #0A1F14 on #4FB06D reaches 6.4:1 (AA). 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 Phthalo Green palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #90235B, #257472, #EBEFED 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 Phthalo Green palette create?
Phthalo Green reads as deep, natural, bold. Gently saturated green drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated teal — a combination that works best when the deep base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Phthalo Green color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Phthalo Green 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 Phthalo Green 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 Phthalo Green's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.