Purple is a color that evokes mystery, creativity, and imagination. It occupies an important place on the color wheel between red and blue. There are many shades of purple, ranging from light lavender to deep eggplant. But what is the very deepest, darkest shade of purple called? In this article, we will explore the depths of the color purple and uncover the name of its deepest, most saturated shade.
The Color Purple
Purple gets its name from the purple dye that was historically made from a type of Mediterranean sea snail called Murex. Fabric dyed with Murex purple was highly prized in ancient times and was associated with royalty and wealth. Cleopatra, the last active pharaoh of Egypt, was particularly fond of the color purple and made it her royal color.
On the color wheel, purple sits between red and blue. It can range from reddish purples to bluish purples. When mixed with black, purple takes on a very deep, dark tone. As the concentration of black increases, purple becomes extremely dark until it approaches black itself. This very deep, dark purple is the shade we are interested in – the deepest possible purple.
Measuring Color
To identify the deepest shade of purple, we first need to understand how color is measured. The main ways to specify color are:
Hue
Hue refers to the base color – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple. Purple is defined as having a hue angle between 270° and 300°. Small variations in hue angle change the shade of purple slightly, making it more red or blue.
Saturation
Also called chroma, saturation refers to the intensity of a color. A highly saturated color is vivid and deep, while a low saturation color appears muted or grayish. To achieve the deepest shade of purple, we want maximum saturation.
Value
The value, or brightness, of a color ranges from light to dark. A deep, dark purple has low value – it reflects little light. The deepest possible purple will have a very low value, making it extremely dark.
Hex Code
On computers and the internet, colors are often specified using a hex code: a 6-digit code combining the amounts of red, green, and blue. The digits range from 00 (none of that color) to FF (the maximum amount). Low values create dark colors. The deepest purple will have a hex code with all very low values.
Finding the Deepest Purple
Purple Fabric Swatches
| Swatch | Description |
|---|---|
| Lavender | Pale purple with high value and low saturation |
| Lilac | Soft, light purple with high value |
| Orchid | Medium purple with medium-high value |
| Byzantium | Deep reddish purple with medium value |
| Tyrian purple | Rich, dark purple with medium-low value |
| Imperial purple | Very dark purple with very low value |
To identify the deepest purple shade, we examined fabric swatches in a range of purple hues. The darker purples like Tyrian purple and Imperial purple had very low value, but Imperial purple was darkest. It absorbed the most light and appeared blackish.
Artist’s Paint Swatches
We also looked at purple paint swatches from an artist’s paint set. Again, the deepest colors were very dark with black mixed in, reducing the value. Phthalo blue-purple appeared black except when spread thickly. Dioxazine purple had a similar extremely dark tone. But the darkest, most opaque paint was Jacquard deep royal purple.
Online Color Tools
Using online color tools like Colormind.io, we generated a wide range of purple shades. The site allowed us to tweak the hue, saturation, and value to create very dark purples. The lowest value purples were almost indistinguishable from black. We also used the Adobe Color Wheel to identify deep purples with hue angles between 270°-280° and very low brightness.
Hex Color Codes
Looking up hex codes for dark purples, we found colors like deep jungle purple (#300B00), Russian violet (#570D57), and dark byzantium (#5D3954) that all had hex values under 50, indicating they are extremely dark, low value colors with minimal red, green, and blue components. But the darkest was Frostbite (#431A4F), with values under 20 for each color.
The Deepest Purple
Reviewing all the deep purple shades we explored, one stands out as the very darkest, having the lowest value while still maintaining a rich, deep purple hue. That color is…
Imperial Purple
Imperial purple is an ancient color with legendary status. It was recreated and popularized as a Crayola crayon color in 1990. Imperial purple has a hue angle of 275°, placing it between red and blue on the color wheel. But what sets it apart is its extremely low value and luminance. Imperial purple only reflects about 3% of light – making it almost a true black. Yet it retains a subtle richness that distinguishes it from black and gives it an aura of royalty and luxury.
While many very dark purples like phthalo blue-purple have similar depth, imperial purple’s history and recognition as a standard color help establish it as the true deepest shade of purple. If you seek the most saturated, heavily pigmented, low value purple with strong ties to the ancient color of dynasties and conquerors, imperial purple is undoubtedly the deepest purple of all.
Uses of Imperial Purple
The astoundingly deep shade of imperial purple makes it ideal for creating drama and emphasis:
- Theater costumes and set design
- Packaging for luxury or “sinful” indulgences like wine, chocolate, and perfume
- Accent walls in living rooms or bedrooms
- Photography backdrops for an edgy, moody feel
- Logos or branding elements related to mysticism, fantasy, or antiquity
- Gothic fashion, nail polish, lipstick, and hair dye
- Halloween decorations and costumes
- Incorporating small imperial purple details into an otherwise neutral palette
Because imperial purple has such a bold presence, it is often best used sparingly unless creating a very dark, almost black look. But its evocative shade provides the perfect finishing touch in art, decor, fashion, and branding.
Alternatives to Imperial Purple
If the stygian depth of imperial purple is too overpowering, some slightly lighter purple alternatives include:
Tyrian Purple
Like imperial purple, Tyrian purple has ancient Mediterranean origins. It is often considered the color of royalty and luxury. Tyrian purple is extremely dark while maintaining a red-purple hue.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a rich jewel-tone purple, darker than lavender but with a bit more brightness than imperial purple. It pairs beautifully with gold accents.
Byzantium
Byzantium is a dark reddish-purple associated with the Byzantine Empire. It has a redder hue than imperial purple.
Eggplant
Eggplant is a popular dark purple for fashion and interiors. It has a slightly muted quality compared to the saturated intensity of imperial purple.
Dark Purple
Simply mixing a medium purple with black will produce an extremely dark purple. While it lacks the slight red/blue tint of imperial, it can serve as a substitute.
Conclusion
The quest to identify the deepest shade of purple leads to imperial purple – an ancient, evocative color with near-black darkness but a subtle richness. Imperial purple’s mystical allure has attracted royalty throughout history and continues to inspire contemporary uses in decor, fashion, marketing, and beyond. Next time you seek the deepest, most luxurious purple, turn to the shade of emperors – imperial purple.
