Showa era
Violet Red & Dull Blue Violet
Plate 9 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Violet Red, Dull Blue Violet.
#80719e
purple · 2 palettes
Dull Blue Violet
About Dull Blue Violet
Dull Blue Violet is a mid-tone, near-neutral purple tone. Its hex value is #80719e — that is
RGB 128, 113, 158, or HSL 260°, 19%, 53%.
It holds 4.8:1 contrast against dark, so Dull Blue Violet works best for body text, headings, and UI labels. (On white it scores 4.4:1; on black 4.8:1.)
Across Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, Dull Blue Violet appears in 2 combinations — most often paired with Violet Red and Buffy Citrine.
Colours that go with Dull Blue Violet
From a standard colour wheel, Dull Blue Violet anchors these four classic schemes. Each swatch is computed from its exact hue, so every hex is a real, usable pairing.
Complementary
#80719e #8F9E71
the hue directly opposite — the highest-contrast pairing, good for a single bold accent.
Analogous
#80719e #71799E #96719E
the two neighbours on the wheel — a calm, cohesive scheme that feels effortless.
Triadic
#80719e #9E8071 #719E80
two hues an even third of the wheel away — balanced and lively without clashing.
Split-complementary
#80719e #9E9771 #799E71
the two colours either side of the complement — the contrast of a complement, softened.
How to use Dull Blue Violet
Dull Blue Violet is a mid-tone, muted tone (HSL 260°, 19%, 53%), which makes it a versatile mid-tone for accents, buttons or blocks. For text it passes WCAG AA for body text against a dark background (4.8:1) — safe for paragraphs, buttons and labels. When you do set type on it, use light lettering. Pair it with its complement (#8F9E71) for a focal accent, or with its analogous neighbours (#71799E and #96719E) for a quieter, harmonious feel.
Studio
Taking Dull Blue Violet off the screen
A hex code is an instruction to a screen, not a colour. Where this one is going decides what it needs next.
Affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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...onto paper
Start here if the palette gets printed. Screen colour and ink colour are not the same colour, and this is the deck that translates between them.
Listed on Amazon as Pantone Formula Guide – Coated & Uncoated | Professional PMS Color Matching System for Print, Packaging & Graphic Design | GP1601B
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...onto a screen you can trust
Start here if it stays digital. An uncalibrated monitor is the single most common reason a palette that looked right on your desk looks wrong everywhere else.
Calibrite
ColorChecker Passport Photo 2
Listed on Amazon as Calibrite ColorChecker Passport Photo 2 Portable Color Calibration Kit for Photo and Video, 4 Target Set for White Balance, Exposure and Creative Look
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...by hand
Start here if you are mixing it. Wada's plates were flat printed colour; gansai pans are the closest everyday medium to them.
Listed on Amazon as Strathmore 300 Series Tape Bound Watercolor Pad, 140 lb. Cold Press, 11 X 15 inches, White, 12 Sheets (360-111)
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Palettes with Dull Blue Violet
Dull Blue Violet appears in 2 combinations from the archive. Each pairing reveals how the same color shifts character depending on its neighbours. For how usage like this compares across the whole dictionary, see the data analysis of all 348 plates.
Questions about Dull Blue Violet
- What is the hex code for Dull Blue Violet?
- Dull Blue Violet is #80719e. It appears in 2 historical color combinations from Sanzo Wada's 1933 "A Dictionary of Color Combinations".
- What does Dull Blue Violet look like on white and black backgrounds?
- Dull Blue Violet (#80719e) has a WCAG contrast ratio of 4.40:1 against white (#FFFFFF) and 4.77:1 against black (#000000). WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
- Where does the color Dull Blue Violet come from?
- Dull Blue Violet is documented in Sanzo Wada's "A Dictionary of Color Combinations" (1933, Seigensha Art Publishing 2010 reprint). Wada catalogued purple pigments and historical Japanese color terms. The source work is in the public domain.
- Can I use Dull Blue Violet in my own design or brand?
- Yes. The color name and hex value (#80719e) are factual data — not copyrightable. Our curation and descriptions are CC BY 4.0 licensed.
From the archive
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