Zaffre

HEX: #0014A8 | Modern Palette

On White
12.61:1
PASS
On Black
1.67:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#0014A8
RGB
0, 20, 168
HSL
232°, 100% ,65%
CMYK
100, 88.1, 0, 34.12

About Zaffre

Zaffre (#0014A8) is a color with RGB(0, 20, 168) and HSL(232.86°, 100%, 65.88%). It is commonly associated with Bold, Playful moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Neon styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #A89400, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #A80014 and #14A800. The name comes from zaffera (Italian).

  • HEX: #0014A8
  • RGB: 0, 20, 168
  • HSL: 232.86°, 100%, 65.88%
  • Mood: Bold, Playful
  • Style: Vivid, Neon
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #A89400
  • Triadic colors: #A80014, #14A800
  • The name comes from zaffera (Italian).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Zaffre #0014A8 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
ZAFFRE
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
ZAFFRE
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Zaffre #0014A8 pairs with #A89400 as its complementary color, and #A80014 and #14A800 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

ZAFFRE
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

ZAFFRE
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

ZAFFRE
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

ZAFFRE
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

ZAFFRE
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

ZAFFRE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Zaffre #0014A8 moves from dark #00031A tones through the base color to lighter #E6E9FF tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

ZAFFRE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold Playful
Style
Vivid Neon
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #0F0FA8
Protanopia #1212A8
Tritanopia #004343
Achromatopsia #333333

Frequently Asked Questions

Zaffre (#0014A8) is a color with RGB(0, 20, 168) and HSL(232.86°, 100%, 65.88%).

#0014A8 pairs strongly with #A89400 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#0014A8 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Neon styles.

#0014A8 is commonly associated with Bold, Playful.

The name Zaffre is linked to zaffera from Italian, meaning sapphire.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word zaffera
Meaning sapphire
Language Italian
First Recorded Use 16th Century

History

The word "zaffre" has a fascinating etymology, tracing back through various languages. It is believed to have originated from the Italian "zaffera," meaning sapphire. This, in turn, likely came from the Medieval Latin "sapphirus," which itself has roots in Greek "sappheiros" and ultimately in a Semitic language (possibly Hebrew "sappir" or Arabic "safir"). Historically, zaffre referred to an impure cobalt oxide pigment, used to produce a deep blue color in glass, ceramics, and enamels. It was a significant trade commodity, particularly from Saxony, Germany, where cobalt mines were abundant. The pigment was created by roasting cobalt ore with quartz, producing a dark blue frit that could then be ground into a powder. Its use predates the more refined cobalt blue pigments.

First Recorded Use

1560s

Cultural Associations

Zaffre, as a pigment, played a crucial role in the production of blue glass and ceramics, particularly in Europe from the Middle Ages through the early modern period. It was essential for creating the distinctive blue hues seen in stained glass windows, majolica pottery, and Delftware. The color 'zaffre' itself, a deep, rich blue, evokes a sense of historical craftsmanship and the vibrant blues found in ancient and medieval art. While the term 'zaffre' is less common today in everyday language, it persists in historical and technical contexts related to pigments and mineralogy.

Similar Named Colors
Blue (Pantone) #0018A8 ΔE 0.66
Duke Blue #00009C ΔE 3.10
Indigo Dye #091F92 ΔE 3.69
Ultramarine #120A8F ΔE 3.72

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #0014A8;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #0014A8;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #0014A8;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #0014A8,
        #FFEA51
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #0014A8,
        #FFEA51
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$zaffre: #0014A8;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$zaffre-r: 0;
$zaffre-g: 20;
$zaffre-b: 168;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $zaffre;
    color: rgba($zaffre-r, $zaffre-g, $zaffre-b, 0.8);
}