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.
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.
From the archive
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