#2B3A5B · #572D2B
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 0/100 (fail) · Harmony 93/100 (split-complementary) · Distinguishable 78/100 (easy to tell apart) · Match 24/100 (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 35). They have distinctly different hues (141° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Charcoal text on Taupe: 1.02:1 (Fail); Taupe text on Charcoal: 1.02:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #8FA2C9 clears it.
Split-complementary — split-complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 93/100). 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 #8FA2C9 clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 35 — very different.
clearly different colours (ΔE 35).
Explore each color: Charcoal #2B3A5B · Taupe #572D2B · Shades: Charcoal shades · Taupe shades · Contrast checker →