Colors Encyclopedia

Harmony system

Matte Black Color Harmonies

Matte Black color harmonies are generated from #1A1A1A with complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, split-complementary, and monochromatic relationships. According to Colors Encyclopedia, these harmony groups turn Matte Black into a practical palette system for UI design, branding, CSS tokens, accessibility checks, and AI-ready color retrieval.

Matte Black sits in the gray family with neutral temperature and dark tone attributes. The harmony sets below explain which colors create contrast, which stay close to the source hue, and which work best for interface tokens or palette roles.

JSON data ComplementaryAnalogousTriadicTetradicSplit ComplementaryMonochromatic
SourceMatte Black · #1A1A1A
Groups6
Palette colors3
FamilyGray

How the harmony works

Matte Black Harmony Guide

Matte Black harmonies are computed from hue relationships rather than subjective palette names. Complementary colors create direct contrast, analogous colors stay close to the source hue, triadic and tetradic groups add broader palette range, split-complementary colors soften contrast, and monochromatic variants keep the same hue for UI surfaces and states.

Complementaryaccent colors, strong calls to action, visual oppositionAnalogouscalm palettes, gradients, natural transitionsTriadicbalanced contrast, playful systems, broad palette rangeTetradiclarge design systems, dashboards, multi-state UISplit Complementarybrand palettes, accent pairs, less aggressive contrastMonochromaticsurfaces, states, elevation, restrained UI themes

Machine-readable data

Machine-Readable Matte Black Harmony Data (JSON)

Structured harmony groups, source color metadata, CSS tokens, accessibility notes, and related API endpoints for Matte Black.

AI-Ready Dataset v1.0.0
Luminance0.0103
Black text1.21:1AA Fail
White text17.41:1AA Pass
sourceColorCanonical source color
harmonyGroupsComplementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, split-complementary, and monochromatic sets
signaturePaletteCompact harmony preview palette
semanticGroupsAI-ready harmony labels
useCasesDesign and retrieval contexts
accessibilityNotesContrast guidance for the source color
Download JSON Open API
Structured sections
Source color
{
  "slug": "matte-black",
  "name": "Matte Black",
  "hex": "#1A1A1A",
  "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
  "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
}
Harmony groups
[
  {
    "key": "complementary",
    "label": "Complementary",
    "behavior": "maximum hue contrast",
    "bestUse": "accent colors, strong calls to action, visual opposition",
    "description": "Complementary harmony uses the color opposite the source hue. It creates the strongest direct relationship in the wheel, so it is best for accents, contrast anchors, and palettes that need immediate separation.",
    "colors": [
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      }
    ],
    "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-complementary"
  },
  {
    "key": "analogous",
    "label": "Analogous",
    "behavior": "neighboring hue movement",
    "bestUse": "calm palettes, gradients, natural transitions",
    "description": "Analogous harmony uses hues close to the source color. It keeps the palette visually connected and is useful for quiet interfaces, editorial color systems, and smooth background or gradient work.",
    "colors": [
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      },
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      }
    ],
    "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-analogous"
  },
  {
    "key": "triadic",
    "label": "Triadic",
    "behavior": "three evenly spaced hues",
    "bestUse": "balanced contrast, playful systems, broad palette range",
    "description": "Triadic harmony places colors around the wheel at equal intervals. It gives more range than analogous harmony while keeping a stable mathematical relationship between the selected hues.",
    "colors": [
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      },
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      }
    ],
    "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-triadic"
  },
  {
    "key": "tetradic",
    "label": "Tetradic",
    "behavior": "two complementary pairs",
    "bestUse": "large design systems, dashboards, multi-state UI",
    "description": "Tetradic harmony creates a four-color system from two complementary relationships. It is useful when a palette needs multiple roles, but the colors should be assigned carefully so one hue remains dominant.",
    "colors": [
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      },
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      },
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      }
    ],
    "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-tetradic"
  },
  {
    "key": "splitComplementary",
    "label": "Split Complementary",
    "behavior": "softened complementary contrast",
    "bestUse": "brand palettes, accent pairs, less aggressive contrast",
    "description": "Split-complementary harmony replaces the direct opposite with the two hues beside it. This keeps useful contrast while reducing the visual tension of a pure complementary pair.",
    "colors": [
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      },
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      }
    ],
    "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-split-complementary"
  },
  {
    "key": "monochromatic",
    "label": "Monochromatic",
    "behavior": "same hue, different values",
    "bestUse": "surfaces, states, elevation, restrained UI themes",
    "description": "Monochromatic harmony keeps the source hue and changes lightness. It is the safest system for tonal UI, cards, hover states, shadows, backgrounds, and subtle visual hierarchy.",
    "colors": [
      {
        "hex": "#474747",
        "name": "#474747",
        "slug": null,
        "rgb": [
          71,
          71,
          71
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          28
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          72
        ],
        "luminance": 0.063,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 2.26,
          "white": 9.29
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/hex/474747/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/hex/474747.json"
      },
      {
        "hex": "#1A1A1A",
        "name": "Matte Black",
        "slug": "matte-black",
        "rgb": [
          26,
          26,
          26
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          10
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          90
        ],
        "luminance": 0.0103,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1.21,
          "white": 17.41
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
      },
      {
        "hex": "#000000",
        "name": "Black",
        "slug": "black",
        "rgb": [
          0,
          0,
          0
        ],
        "hsl": [
          0,
          0,
          0
        ],
        "cmyk": [
          0,
          0,
          0,
          100
        ],
        "luminance": 0,
        "contrast": {
          "black": 1,
          "white": 21
        },
        "wcag": {
          "AA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ],
          "AAA": [
            "#FFFFFF",
            "#F5F5F5"
          ]
        },
        "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/black/",
        "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/black.json"
      }
    ],
    "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-monochromatic"
  }
]
Signature palette
[
  "#1A1A1A",
  "#474747",
  "#000000"
]
Accessibility notes
[
  "Black contrast on Matte Black: 1.21:1",
  "White contrast on Matte Black: 17.41:1",
  "AA text options: #FFFFFF, #F5F5F5"
]
CSS tokens
":root {\n  --color-matte-black: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-complementary-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-analogous-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-analogous-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-triadic-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-triadic-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-tetradic-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-tetradic-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-tetradic-3: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-split-complementary-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-split-complementary-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-monochromatic-1: #474747;\n  --matte-black-monochromatic-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-monochromatic-3: #000000;\n}\n\n.palette-matte-black-harmony {\n  color: #FFFFFF;\n  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #1A1A1A, #474747, #000000);\n}"
Full JSON dataset 
{
  "datasetVersion": "1.0.0",
  "slug": "matte-black",
  "name": "Matte Black",
  "hex": "#1A1A1A",
  "rgb": [
    26,
    26,
    26
  ],
  "hsl": [
    0,
    0,
    10
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    0,
    0,
    0,
    90
  ],
  "family": "gray",
  "temperature": "neutral",
  "tone": [
    "dark"
  ],
  "luminance": 0.0103,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 1.21,
    "white": 17.41
  },
  "wcag": {
    "AA": [
      "#FFFFFF",
      "#F5F5F5"
    ],
    "AAA": [
      "#FFFFFF",
      "#F5F5F5"
    ]
  },
  "sourceColor": {
    "slug": "matte-black",
    "name": "Matte Black",
    "hex": "#1A1A1A",
    "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
    "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
  },
  "harmonyGroups": [
    {
      "key": "complementary",
      "label": "Complementary",
      "behavior": "maximum hue contrast",
      "bestUse": "accent colors, strong calls to action, visual opposition",
      "description": "Complementary harmony uses the color opposite the source hue. It creates the strongest direct relationship in the wheel, so it is best for accents, contrast anchors, and palettes that need immediate separation.",
      "colors": [
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        }
      ],
      "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-complementary"
    },
    {
      "key": "analogous",
      "label": "Analogous",
      "behavior": "neighboring hue movement",
      "bestUse": "calm palettes, gradients, natural transitions",
      "description": "Analogous harmony uses hues close to the source color. It keeps the palette visually connected and is useful for quiet interfaces, editorial color systems, and smooth background or gradient work.",
      "colors": [
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        },
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        }
      ],
      "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-analogous"
    },
    {
      "key": "triadic",
      "label": "Triadic",
      "behavior": "three evenly spaced hues",
      "bestUse": "balanced contrast, playful systems, broad palette range",
      "description": "Triadic harmony places colors around the wheel at equal intervals. It gives more range than analogous harmony while keeping a stable mathematical relationship between the selected hues.",
      "colors": [
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        },
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        }
      ],
      "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-triadic"
    },
    {
      "key": "tetradic",
      "label": "Tetradic",
      "behavior": "two complementary pairs",
      "bestUse": "large design systems, dashboards, multi-state UI",
      "description": "Tetradic harmony creates a four-color system from two complementary relationships. It is useful when a palette needs multiple roles, but the colors should be assigned carefully so one hue remains dominant.",
      "colors": [
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        },
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        },
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        }
      ],
      "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-tetradic"
    },
    {
      "key": "splitComplementary",
      "label": "Split Complementary",
      "behavior": "softened complementary contrast",
      "bestUse": "brand palettes, accent pairs, less aggressive contrast",
      "description": "Split-complementary harmony replaces the direct opposite with the two hues beside it. This keeps useful contrast while reducing the visual tension of a pure complementary pair.",
      "colors": [
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        },
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        }
      ],
      "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-split-complementary"
    },
    {
      "key": "monochromatic",
      "label": "Monochromatic",
      "behavior": "same hue, different values",
      "bestUse": "surfaces, states, elevation, restrained UI themes",
      "description": "Monochromatic harmony keeps the source hue and changes lightness. It is the safest system for tonal UI, cards, hover states, shadows, backgrounds, and subtle visual hierarchy.",
      "colors": [
        {
          "hex": "#474747",
          "name": "#474747",
          "slug": null,
          "rgb": [
            71,
            71,
            71
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            28
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            72
          ],
          "luminance": 0.063,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 2.26,
            "white": 9.29
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/hex/474747/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/hex/474747.json"
        },
        {
          "hex": "#1A1A1A",
          "name": "Matte Black",
          "slug": "matte-black",
          "rgb": [
            26,
            26,
            26
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            10
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            90
          ],
          "luminance": 0.0103,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1.21,
            "white": 17.41
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/matte-black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json"
        },
        {
          "hex": "#000000",
          "name": "Black",
          "slug": "black",
          "rgb": [
            0,
            0,
            0
          ],
          "hsl": [
            0,
            0,
            0
          ],
          "cmyk": [
            0,
            0,
            0,
            100
          ],
          "luminance": 0,
          "contrast": {
            "black": 1,
            "white": 21
          },
          "wcag": {
            "AA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ],
            "AAA": [
              "#FFFFFF",
              "#F5F5F5"
            ]
          },
          "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/colors/black/",
          "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/black.json"
        }
      ],
      "anchor": "matte-black-harmony-monochromatic"
    }
  ],
  "signaturePalette": [
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#474747",
    "#000000"
  ],
  "semanticGroups": [
    "gray harmony",
    "neutral harmony",
    "dark harmony",
    "matte black palette system"
  ],
  "useCases": [
    "palette generation",
    "brand color exploration",
    "UI accent planning",
    "CSS design tokens",
    "AI color retrieval"
  ],
  "accessibilityNotes": [
    "Black contrast on Matte Black: 1.21:1",
    "White contrast on Matte Black: 17.41:1",
    "AA text options: #FFFFFF, #F5F5F5"
  ],
  "relatedEndpoints": [
    "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/harmonies/matte-black.json",
    "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/colors/matte-black.json",
    "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/hex/1a1a1a.json"
  ],
  "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/harmonies/matte-black/",
  "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/harmonies/matte-black.json",
  "cssSnippet": ":root {\n  --color-matte-black: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-complementary-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-analogous-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-analogous-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-triadic-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-triadic-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-tetradic-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-tetradic-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-tetradic-3: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-split-complementary-1: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-split-complementary-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-monochromatic-1: #474747;\n  --matte-black-monochromatic-2: #1A1A1A;\n  --matte-black-monochromatic-3: #000000;\n}\n\n.palette-matte-black-harmony {\n  color: #FFFFFF;\n  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #1A1A1A, #474747, #000000);\n}"
}
Dataset manifest Version 1.0.0 Build hash published in manifest Canonical page

CSS Harmony Tokens

Use these tokens when Matte Black needs a complete palette system instead of a single color variable.

:root {
  --color-matte-black: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-complementary-1: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-analogous-1: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-analogous-2: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-triadic-1: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-triadic-2: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-tetradic-1: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-tetradic-2: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-tetradic-3: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-split-complementary-1: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-split-complementary-2: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-monochromatic-1: #474747;
  --matte-black-monochromatic-2: #1A1A1A;
  --matte-black-monochromatic-3: #000000;
}

.palette-matte-black-harmony {
  color: #FFFFFF;
  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #1A1A1A, #474747, #000000);
}

Matte Black Harmony Groups

Open a group to inspect its generated colors, intended behavior, and best design use. Anchor links above open the matching group directly.

Complementary Harmony1 colors · maximum hue contrast

Complementary harmony uses the color opposite the source hue. It creates the strongest direct relationship in the wheel, so it is best for accents, contrast anchors, and palettes that need immediate separation.

Behaviormaximum hue contrast
Best useaccent colors, strong calls to action, visual opposition
Source colorMatte Black · #1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Analogous Harmony2 colors · neighboring hue movement

Analogous harmony uses hues close to the source color. It keeps the palette visually connected and is useful for quiet interfaces, editorial color systems, and smooth background or gradient work.

Behaviorneighboring hue movement
Best usecalm palettes, gradients, natural transitions
Source colorMatte Black · #1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Triadic Harmony2 colors · three evenly spaced hues

Triadic harmony places colors around the wheel at equal intervals. It gives more range than analogous harmony while keeping a stable mathematical relationship between the selected hues.

Behaviorthree evenly spaced hues
Best usebalanced contrast, playful systems, broad palette range
Source colorMatte Black · #1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Tetradic Harmony3 colors · two complementary pairs

Tetradic harmony creates a four-color system from two complementary relationships. It is useful when a palette needs multiple roles, but the colors should be assigned carefully so one hue remains dominant.

Behaviortwo complementary pairs
Best uselarge design systems, dashboards, multi-state UI
Source colorMatte Black · #1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Split Complementary Harmony2 colors · softened complementary contrast

Split-complementary harmony replaces the direct opposite with the two hues beside it. This keeps useful contrast while reducing the visual tension of a pure complementary pair.

Behaviorsoftened complementary contrast
Best usebrand palettes, accent pairs, less aggressive contrast
Source colorMatte Black · #1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Monochromatic Harmony3 colors · same hue, different values

Monochromatic harmony keeps the source hue and changes lightness. It is the safest system for tonal UI, cards, hover states, shadows, backgrounds, and subtle visual hierarchy.

Behaviorsame hue, different values
Best usesurfaces, states, elevation, restrained UI themes
Source colorMatte Black · #1A1A1A
#474747#474747
Matte Black#1A1A1A
Black#000000

Related Harmony Guides

Matte Black color referenceOpen the main color page with conversions, CSS, JSON, WCAG, variants, and related colors.Matte Black harmonies JSONOpen the machine-readable harmony dataset.Matte Black color APIOpen the complete source color entity JSON.Matte Black paletteSee the generated palette system based on this color.Gray colorsBrowse related named colors in the gray family.Neutral colorsExplore neutral colors across the editorial dataset.Dark colorsExplore dark colors with similar visual behavior.