#002226 · #3E0005
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 1/100 (fail) · Harmony 86/100 (complementary) · Distinguishable 79/100 (easy to tell apart) · Match 3/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Deep Vivid Cyan and Espresso are very different (ΔE 44). They have near-opposite hues (169° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Deep Vivid Cyan text on Espresso: 1.04:1 (Fail); Espresso text on Deep Vivid Cyan: 1.04:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #65888C clears it.
Complementary — complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 86/100). This is about how they look together (clothing, interiors, branding), independent of text contrast.
Not at body size — the best direction is only 1.0:1, below the 4.5:1 minimum. Nudging one colour to #65888C clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 44 — very different.
clearly different colours (ΔE 44).
Explore each color: Deep Vivid Cyan #002226 · Espresso #3E0005 · Shades: Deep Vivid Cyan shades · Espresso shades · Contrast checker →