Basic Black
Stampin' Up!® Color

Basic Information

  • Basics 2018 to 2027
  • Neutrals 2010 to 2018
  • Neutrals (Legacy) 2005 to 2010
  • Earth Elements 1997 to 2005

Basic Black is a very dark, clean black with a dramatic, classic feel. It suggests neutrals, classic pairings and minimalist themes, giving the shade a practical visual anchor without feeling limited to one object or season. The color works like a deep neutral, helping nearby colors feel more grounded, polished or layered. Depending on the surrounding palette, it can read as ink black, charcoal, shadow or ebony, which gives it useful range for seasonal, natural, floral and themed designs.

Other Names

  • Basic Black
  • Black
  • Jet Black
  • Ink Black
  • True Black
  • Charcoal Black
  • Ebony
  • Onyx
  • Midnight
  • Dark Charcoal
  • Soot
  • Raven
  • Coal
  • Deep Black
  • Noir
  • Shadow
  • Clean Black

Color Theory

Basic Black is a near-neutral black with almost no visible brightness. Although the calculated hue falls near violet, the color is so dark that hue is not visually dominant and it functions as a neutral. Its hue of around 264° gives it only the faintest cool undertone, its saturation of about 100% reflects the tiny RGB differences inside an almost-black shade, and its value of about 2% makes it feel extremely dark, strong and high contrast.

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Using This Color

  • Neutrals
  • Classic Pairings
  • Minimalist Themes
  • Typography
  • High Contrast
  • Ink
  • Charcoal
  • Night Skies
  • Silhouettes
  • Halloween
  • Formal Themes
  • Shadows
  • Chalkboard Effects
  • Stars
  • Moody Florals
  • Ravens
  • Classic Neutrals
  • Natural Textures
  • Vintage Themes
  • Masculine Themes
  • Minimalist Palettes