About Mercer Charcoal
Mercer Charcoal is a muted, mid-toned gray at #aca495, sitting closest to cool_gray on the color wheel. In color psychology it reads as neutral, practical, and balanced — a neutral presence, and it carries the steadiness designers lean on for trust-centered brands.
For text on Mercer Charcoal, black performs best at 8.50:1 — passing WCAG AAA. In a palette it suits background or secondary roles.
Contrast Accessibility
With white
2.47:1
With black
8.50:1
Color Conversions
#aca495
rgb(172, 164, 149)
hsl(39°, 12%, 63%)
oklch(0.721 0.023 83.3)
cmyk(0%, 500%, 1300%, 3300%)
Tint & Shade Scale
A 10-step scale from light to dark, anchored to the base color at step 500. Click any swatch to copy its hex.
Tone Scale
Color mixed with gray — reduces saturation without changing lightness. Click any swatch to copy its hex.
Temperature
Hue shifted cooler and warmer in equal steps. Click any swatch to copy its hex.
Color Psychology
Adds: versatility, balance
A neutral, neutral tone.
Keeps attention on content; ubiquitous in modern UIs.
Learn more about color psychology →Palette Narrative
A urban palette evoking balanced, neutral, practical. Well-suited for professional and subtle brand contexts. A focused selection that communicates intent clearly.
Inspired Palettes
Shades
Lightness variations keeping hue and chroma intact
Monochromatic
Single hue with varied lightness and chroma
Complementary
Opposite hues on the color wheel for maximum contrast
Triadic
Three evenly spaced hues for vibrant balance
Analogous
Neighboring hues for natural, serene combinations
Split Complementary
Complement split into two flanking hues
Generic Gradient
Smooth lightness ramp from dark to light
Matching Gradient
Lightness ramp with a gentle hue drift
Skip Gradient
Alternating light and dark steps for rhythm
9 of 28 palettes from #aca495
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