#2C3D5F · #5B2F2E
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 1/100 (fail) · Harmony 93/100 (split-complementary) · Distinguishable 80/100 (easy to tell apart) · Match 22/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Charcoal and Taupe are very different (ΔE 36). They have distinctly different hues (141° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Charcoal text on Taupe: 1.03:1 (Fail); Taupe text on Charcoal: 1.03:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #91A6CE clears it.
Split-complementary — split-complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 93/100). This is about how they look together (clothing, interiors, branding), independent of text contrast.
Not at body size — the best direction is only 1.0:1, below the 4.5:1 minimum. Nudging one colour to #91A6CE clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 36 — very different.
clearly different colours (ΔE 36).
Explore each color: Charcoal #2C3D5F · Taupe #5B2F2E · Shades: Charcoal shades · Taupe shades · Contrast checker →