Purple is a color that occupies the space between red and blue on the color spectrum. It is known for its regal associations as well as its ambiguity – purple can range from light and bright to dark and muted. When purple becomes very dark, it can start to appear almost black. So what specific shades of purple are the closest to black?
Defining Dark Purple
To understand what purple is almost black, it helps to first define exactly what is meant by “dark purple.” In general, dark purples are those with low values and saturation on the HSV (hue, saturation, value) scale. They have a high proportion of black mixed in, making the shade very dark.
Some defining features of dark purple shades:
- Low value – Dark purples have a low value, meaning they reflect little light. A value close to 0% will produce an extremely dark color.
- Low saturation – Dark purples are generally not vivid or bright. Instead, they have low saturation, meaning there is a lot of gray mixed in.
- Hue in the purple/blue range – The hue of dark purples falls somewhere between the red-purple and blue-purple ranges. As saturation decreases, the exact hue becomes less noticeable.
So in summary, dark purples are low in lightness and intensity. This makes them appear somber and muted.
Purple Shades Bordering on Black
Now that we know what qualifies a purple as “dark,” we can look at specific shades that are so dark they border on black. Here are some of the prime examples:
Dark Purple
Unsurprisingly, the color actually named “Dark Purple” is a prime contender for purple that looks almost black. With an RGB value of 48, 25, 52, it reflects very little light. This extremely dark shade sits at the intersection of purple and black.
Eggplant
Eggplant is a popular kind of purple that straddles the line between purple and black. It is a mix of deep purple with a high proportion of black. With an RGB value of 62, 29, 45, it absorbs most light, appearing solid and dark.
Purple Heart
Purple Heart is widely considered one of the darkest shades of purple. It has a red-purple base infused with a high amount of black. This shade gets its name from the color of the Purple Heart military decoration. With an RGB of 64, 16, 77, it reflects very little light.
Tyrian Purple
Tyrian purple has a long history dating back to ancient Phoenician traders. It is an extremely dark, rich shade created from mollusks. Tyrian purple was difficult to produce which made it valuable and exclusive. Its RGB value is 50, 24, 38.
| Shade | RGB Value |
|---|---|
| Dark Purple | 48, 25, 52 |
| Eggplant | 62, 29, 45 |
| Purple Heart | 64, 16, 77 |
| Tyrian Purple | 50, 24, 38 |
Comparing Dark Purples to Black
To demonstrate just how close the darkest purples are to black, it helps to directly compare them. Here are two swatches, one of each dark purple shade and one of black.
| Dark Purple | Black | |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | 48, 25, 52 | 0, 0, 0 |
| Hex Code | #301834 | #000000 |
| Eggplant | Black | |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | 62, 29, 45 | 0, 0, 0 |
| Hex Code | #3E1D2D | #000000 |
| Purple Heart | Black | |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | 64, 16, 77 | 0, 0, 0 |
| Hex Code | #40104D | #000000 |
| Tyrian Purple | Black | |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | 50, 24, 38 | 0, 0, 0 |
| Hex Code | #321826 | #000000 |
As you can see, the RGB and hex values for these dark purples are very close to pure black. All of them reflect little light and absorb most wavelengths. Visually, they appear almost indistinguishable from black in many situations.
When Purple Looks Black
There are certain contexts and conditions where these dark purples will appear indistinguishable from true black. Some examples include:
- Low light conditions – In a dark room or at night, these shades will look solid black.
- Small scale – When used in a very small area, like text or thin lines, the dark purple will mimic black.
- Matte finish – With a matte or flat finish, the subtle hue differences are less noticeable.
- Digital rendering – On some screens, the darkest purples will display as or be hard to distinguish from black.
So in the right setting, you may have to look very closely to notice purple rather than pure black. This especially applies to the darkest shades like Purple Heart and Tyrian Purple.
Key Differences from Black
Despite their near-black appearance in some conditions, there are still some subtle ways the darkest purples differ from true black:
- Higher light reflection – Black absorbs all light. Dark purples still reflect a tiny amount, containing hints of hue.
- Texture – Black is neutral while dark purples retain a hint of chroma that gives them the slightest purple texture.
- Undertones – Purples, even dark ones, have a red-blue undertone whereas black has no undertone.
- Vibrancy – Zooming in up close, black is flat and lifeless while dark purples have a subtle vibrancy.
So while dark purples like Purple Heart can appear black in the right context, on close inspection you can still perceive a very deep, dark purple hue.
Uses of Nearly Black Purples
These darkest shades of purple that border on black have many uses:
- Text – Provides high contrast with white while being slightly warmer than true black.
- Backgrounds – As a background color, dark purple sets a brooding, subtle mood.
- Borders – For separates and lines, nearly black purple gives definition without being stark.
- Shadows – Layering over other colors, dark purple creates soft, natural-looking shadows.
- Gothic themes – The somber, gothic vibe of these shades fits with dark themes.
- Fine details – Allows very precise, dark details when painting or drawing.
In the right application, dark purples can pull off the appearance of black while offering their unique benefits. Their versatility comes from straddling the line between purple vibrancy and black darkness.
Conclusion
When exploring what purple is almost black, shades like Dark Purple, Eggplant, Purple Heart, and Tyrian Purple stand out. With low lightness and saturation, they reflect very little light and have RGB values nearing complete black. In certain conditions, these dark purples are indistinguishable from black, especially in small areas or low light. Yet on closer inspection, differences can be perceived in terms of texture and undertones. Knowing the nuances of these near-black purples allows choosing a shade perfect for an application, whether it be adding vibrancy to text or depth to a shadow. So while not fully black, the darkest purples sit right on its border, offering unique benefits of their own.
