Is Graphite (#474A51) accessible for digital body text?

Against a pure white background (#FFFFFF), #474A51 achieves a contrast ratio of 8.87:1 (Passing WCAG AA normal text). Against a dark slate background (#0F172A), it achieves a contrast ratio of 2.01:1 (Failing WCAG AA normal text).

Which color harmonies pair best with Graphite?

The exact complementary color for #474A51 is #524F47. For analogous pairings, use #475052 and #494752. You can explore these combinations further in our Color Harmony Generator.

Color Directory/Graphite

Graphite (#474A51)

Q: What are the exact digital and print color codes for Graphite (#474A51)?

Graphite has the HEX code #474A51. In RGB color coordinates, its values are 71, 74, 81. In HSL, it is 222°, 7%, 30%. In CMYK print values, it corresponds to C:12% M:9% Y:0% K:68%.

Luminance: 7% · Nearest standard name: Graphite

Generate Around This Color

GRAPHITE

#474A51

rgb(71, 74, 81) · hsl(222°, 7%, 30%)

HEX#474A51

RGB71, 74, 81

HSL222°, 7%, 30%

HSV / HSB222°, 12%, 32%

CMYK (Print)12%, 9%, 0%, 68%

Color Harmonies

Complementary

#474A51#524F47

Analogous

#475052#474A51#494752

Triadic

#474A51#52474A#4A5247

Tints & Shades

Lighter Tints

Darker Shades

WCAG 2.2 Contrast Verification

Against White (#FFFFFF)8.87:1

Sample text rendered with #474A51 on white

AA Normal: PASSAA Large: PASS

Against Dark (#0F172A)2.01:1

Sample text rendered with #474A51 on dark

AA Normal: FAILAA Large: FAIL

Palettes Featuring Similar Tones

cp-featured-01Technology

TechModernCool

cp-featured-02Sunset

SunsetGradientCreative

cp-featured-03Vintage

VintageRetroWarm

cp-featured-04Gaming

Cyber Glitch Protocol

GamingFuturisticNeon

Comprehensive Color Profile & Design Architecture

The Complete Color Guide to Graphite (#474A51)

Graphite (#474A51) is a distinct shade within the Slate & Neutral chromatic spectrum. Characterized by an optical luminance of 7% and a neutral color temperature, this tone plays a vital role across web applications, brand identities, and editorial typography. Discover its mathematical harmonies, accessibility metrics, UI engineering roles, and front-end code tokens.

Technical Colorimetry & Coordinate Breakdown

Exact mathematical values across digital display, print press, and human perceptual spaces.

HEX Code#474A51

RGB Space71, 74, 81

HSL Values222°, 7%, 30%

HSV / HSB222°, 12%, 32%

CMYK Ink12%, 9%, 0%, 68%

TemperatureNeutral

Optical Color Harmony Formulas for Graphite

Geometric intervals calculated from #474A51 on the 360-degree color wheel.

Direct Polar (180°)#524F47

Complementary Harmony

Pairs Graphite with its polar opposite (#524F47) to create maximum optical contrast, perfect for high-converting call-to-action buttons.

Adjacent (±30°)#475052 · #494752

Analogous Harmony

Positions adjacent neighboring hues on either side of Graphite for serene, gentle, and organic visual transitions.

Split Angles (150° / 210°)#524947 · #505247

Split-Complementary

Uses the two colors flanking the direct complement of Graphite, offering rich visual variety without harsh chromatic vibration.

Triangular (120°)#52474A · #4A5247

Triadic Harmony

Forms an equilateral triangle on the color wheel, generating playful, dynamic energy when balanced against a neutral background.

Rectangular (90°)#524750 · #524F47 · #475249

Tetradic (Square) Harmony

A rich four-color scheme combining two complementary pairs, ideal for complex dashboards, gaming HUDs, and multi-tier charts.

Interactive Exploration

Build Palettes With Graphite

Lock #474A51 inside our interactive generator to calculate live matching palettes in real time.

Launch Palette Generator

The 60-30-10 UI Implementation Role for Graphite

Recommended proportional volume and semantic interface assignment.

Recommended Assignment: Structural Surface & Border Tone (30% Volume)

Because of its muted, low-chroma saturation (7%), Graphite (#474A51) excels as a secondary surface color for container cards, table borders, navigation sidebars, and divider strokes.

Light Mode SurfaceIdeal for buttons and badges

Dark Mode AdaptationDesaturate slightly for ambient glow

Tonal Expansion ScaleView 10-step design token ramp →

Color Psychology & Industry Alignment

Strategic cognitive triggers and target sector recommendations.

Cognitive & Emotional Perception

Provides timeless neutrality, structural balance, and minimalist sophistication. Eliminates chromatic noise so primary content and photography take center stage.

Optimal Industry Verticals

Editorial Publications, Minimalist Portfolios, Architecture, Hardware Engineering. Combining Graphite with intentional neutral whitespace reinforces authority and conversion clarity.

Production Code Tokens for Graphite

Drop-in design system tokens for CSS, Tailwind CSS, and SCSS.

CSS Custom Properties (:root)Vanilla CSS

:root {
  --color-474a51: #474A51;
  --color-474a51-rgb: 71, 74, 81;
  --color-474a51-hsl: 222deg 7% 30%;
}

tailwind.config.jsTailwind CSS

module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      colors: {
        '474a51': '#474A51',
      }
    }
  }
};

Explore Related Color Tools for Graphite

Continue developing your color system with specialized design tools.

Palette Generator

Generate harmonious 5-color palettes anchored to Graphite.

Launch Tool

WCAG Contrast Checker

Verify Level AA and AAA readability for Graphite against any background.

Check Contrast

Shades & Tints Scale

Generate a full 10-step tonal scale from 50 to 900 for Graphite.

Expand Scale

CSS Gradient Generator

Create linear and radial gradients blending Graphite with complementary hues.

Build Gradients

Frequently Asked Questions About Graphite (#474A51)

Authoritative answers covering Graphite color codes, WCAG contrast compliance, and UI design systems.

What are the exact digital and print color codes for Graphite (#474A51)?

Graphite is defined by the HEX code #474A51. Its digital screen RGB coordinates are R:71, G:74, B:81. Its cylindrical HSL values are Hue:222°, Saturation:7%, Lightness:30%. In HSV/HSB format, it is 222°, 12%, 32%. For four-color CMYK process printing, its ink percentages are C:12%, M:9%, Y:0%, K:68%.

Does Graphite (#474A51) pass WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards for text readability?

Against a pure white (#FFFFFF) background, Graphite achieves a contrast ratio of 8.87:1 (Passing WCAG AA for normal body text, and Passing for large headings). Against dark slate (#0F172A), it achieves a contrast ratio of 2.01:1 (Failing WCAG AA).

What is the direct complementary color for Graphite (#474A51)?

The exact 180-degree optical complementary color for #474A51 is #524F47. When placed side-by-side, #474A51 and #524F47 create maximum visual tension and high click-through conversion rates.

What is the recommended role for Graphite in the 60-30-10 UI design rule?

Because of its muted, low-chroma saturation (7%), Graphite (#474A51) excels as a secondary surface color for container cards, table borders, navigation sidebars, and divider strokes.

How can I copy and export Graphite into Tailwind CSS and CSS variables?

You can define Graphite in CSS custom properties as ':root { --color-custom: #474A51; }' or paste it into your 'tailwind.config.js' file under 'theme.extend.colors'. You can also generate full palettes containing Graphite using our interactive Color Palette Generator.

Which color family does Graphite (#474A51) belong to?

Graphite belongs to the Slate & Neutral family (Neutral spectrum). You can explore full tonal ramps and curated palettes in our Slate & Neutral Color Guide.