What is the hex code for Light Brownish Olive?

Light Brownish Olive is #806e4b. It appears in 2 historical color combinations from Sanzo Wada's 1933 "A Dictionary of Color Combinations".

What does Light Brownish Olive look like on white and black backgrounds?

Light Brownish Olive (#806e4b) has a WCAG contrast ratio of 4.94:1 against white (#FFFFFF) and 4.25:1 against black (#000000). WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

Where does the color Light Brownish Olive come from?

Light Brownish Olive is documented in Sanzo Wada's "A Dictionary of Color Combinations" (1933, Seigensha Art Publishing 2010 reprint). Wada catalogued brown pigments and historical Japanese color terms. The source work is in the public domain.

Can I use Light Brownish Olive in my own design or brand?

Yes. The color name and hex value (#806e4b) are factual data — not copyrightable. Our curation and descriptions are CC BY 4.0 licensed.

#806e4b

brown · 2 palettes

Light Brownish Olive

About Light Brownish Olive

Light Brownish Olive is a mid-tone, muted brown tone. Its hex value is #806e4b — that is RGB 128, 110, 75, or HSL 40°, 26%, 40%.

It holds 4.9:1 contrast against white, so Light Brownish Olive works best for body text, headings, and UI labels. (On white it scores 4.9:1; on black 4.2:1.)

Across Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, Light Brownish Olive appears in 2 combinations — most often paired with Ochre Red, Deep Lyons Blue and Blackish Olive.

Colours that go with Light Brownish Olive

From a standard colour wheel, Light Brownish Olive anchors these four classic schemes. Each swatch is computed from its exact hue, so every hex is a real, usable pairing.

Complementary

#806e4b #4B5D80

the hue directly opposite — the highest-contrast pairing, good for a single bold accent.

Analogous

#806e4b #80544B #78804B

the two neighbours on the wheel — a calm, cohesive scheme that feels effortless.

Triadic

#806e4b #4B806E #6E4B80

two hues an even third of the wheel away — balanced and lively without clashing.

Split-complementary

#806e4b #4B7880 #544B80

the two colours either side of the complement — the contrast of a complement, softened.

How to use Light Brownish Olive

Light Brownish Olive is a mid-tone, muted tone (HSL 40°, 26%, 40%), which makes it a versatile mid-tone for accents, buttons or blocks. For text it passes WCAG AA for body text against a light background (4.9:1) — safe for paragraphs, buttons and labels. When you do set type on it, use light lettering. Pair it with its complement (#4B5D80) for a focal accent, or with its analogous neighbours (#80544B and #78804B) for a quieter, harmonious feel.

Studio

Taking Light Brownish Olive 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.

...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.

Pantone

Formula Guide — coated & uncoated

Listed on Amazon as Pantone Formula Guide – Coated & Uncoated | Professional PMS Color Matching System for Print, Packaging & Graphic Design | GP1601B
See price on Amazon
...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
See price on Amazon
...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.

Kuretake

Gansai Tambi 36

Listed on Amazon as Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor Paint Set 36 Colors
See price on Amazon

Amazon Associates affiliate links — your price is unchanged and a small commission keeps the archive free. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Palettes with Light Brownish Olive

Light Brownish Olive 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.

Showa era

Ochre Red & Light Brownish Olive +1

Plate 199 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Ochre Red, Light Brownish Olive, Deep Lyons Blue.

Showa era