UI Shades

A study in neutral

Black

#000000

Family
Neutral
L
0.000
C
0.000
H
-

Notes

Black is the absence of light, but on a display it is the full off-state of every pixel. As a UI surface it carries the most weight of any color and so is used sparingly for type, borders, and primary actions on light backgrounds. The aesthetic load is heavy: black implies premium, technical, or austere depending on the typography around it. In dark-mode interfaces, true black saves OLED battery but produces uncomfortable contrast spikes against adjacent UI elements. Most dark UIs use a near-black like #0a0a0a or #18181b instead to avoid the visual jolt at edges.

#000000
Black
Black
#000000
oklch(0 0 0)
rgb(0 0 0)
hsl(0 0% 0%)
Share
#fafafa
#f4f4f4
#e5e5e5
#d4d4d4
#b4b4b4
#8b8b8b
#737373
#5e5e5e
#444444
#2d2d2d
#000000

See your palette on a real UI - coming soon

Preview these shades across buttons, cards, and components in a live interface.

Plate 02

Palette built around Black

Cross-reference
Q&A

Frequently asked questions

What is Black?

Black is the absence of light, but on a display it is the full off-state of every pixel. As a UI surface it carries the most weight of any color and so is used sparingly for type, borders, and primary actions on light backgrounds. Its hex code is #000000.

What are the tints and shades of Black?

uishades builds an 11-step OKLCH ramp for Black (#000000) - its lightest tints through its darkest shades - plus an 11-stop Tailwind scale (50–950), both keyed to the same 50–950 stops. Lightness steps stay evenly spaced and the hue stays stable, so the mid-tones don't go muddy.

What colors pair well with Black?

Its complementary color is #000000. Triadic partners are #000000 and #000000; analogous neighbours are #000000 and #000000.

What are the OKLCH and RGB values of Black?

Black is #000000 - OKLCH 0.000 0.000 0°, rgb(0 0 0), in the neutral family.