#024449 · #4A3812
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 1/100 (fail) · Harmony 96/100 (split-complementary) · Distinguishable 83/100 (easy to tell apart) · Match 13/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Charcoal and Taupe are very different (ΔE 40). They have distinctly different hues (144° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Charcoal text on Taupe: 1.03:1 (Fail); Taupe text on Charcoal: 1.03:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #75AEB3 clears it.
Split-complementary — split-complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 96/100). 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 #75AEB3 clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 40 — very different.
clearly different colours (ΔE 40).
Explore each color: Charcoal #024449 · Taupe #4A3812 · Shades: Charcoal shades · Taupe shades · Contrast checker →