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Charcoal

#494257

Charcoal is a cool dark color with the hex code #494257. This muted hue can be represented as RGB 73, 66, 87 in digital design or CMYK 16%, 24%, 0%, 66% for print applications. Find matching Pantone color.

Charcoal Color Values

HEX
#494257
RGB
73, 66, 87
HSL
260°, 14%, 30%
CMYK
16, 24, 0, 66

Shades & Tints

Darker Lighter

About this color

Charcoal sits at 260° on the color wheel, placing it in the cool color family, typically conveying calm and professionalism. With 14% saturation and 30% lightness, this muted dark hue offers sophisticated, understated presence.

In digital design, cool colors like Charcoal work well for backgrounds, navigation, and establishing trust. Dark colors provide excellent contrast for text overlays and premium brand aesthetics.

When using Charcoal in print, the CMYK breakdown of 16%, 24%, 0%, 66% ensures accurate color reproduction. This balanced CMYK profile should reproduce consistently across different printing methods.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

Analogous

Triadic

Split-Complementary

How to use Charcoal

CSS Variable 

:root {
  --brand-primary: #494257;
  --brand-primary-rgb: 73, 66, 87;
}

Define as a CSS custom property for consistent theming across your site.

Tailwind Config 

colors: {
  brand: '#494257',
}

Add to your Tailwind config to use classes like bg-brand.

Print Design (CMYK) 

C: 16%
M: 24%
Y: 0%
K: 66%

Use these CMYK values in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or print specifications.

RGB for Screens 

rgb(73, 66, 87)
rgba(73, 66, 87, 0.8)

Use RGB notation for compatibility or add alpha channel for transparency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color is #494257?
#494257 is Charcoal, a cool dark color with RGB values of 73, 66, 87. It has a hue of 260°, 14% saturation, and 30% lightness in the HSL color space.
What is the RGB value of #494257?
The RGB color code for #494257 is rgb(73, 66, 87). This means it contains 73 red, 66 green, and 87 blue in the RGB color model.
Is Charcoal a warm or cool color?
Charcoal (#494257) is a cool color with a hue between 120-300° on the color wheel.
How do I use #494257 in CSS?
You can use #494257 in CSS with: background-color: #494257; or color: #494257; or as an RGB value: rgb(73, 66, 87). For print design, use CMYK: 16%, 24%, 0%, 66%.

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