What are Valspar Bittersweet Molasses undertones?
Bittersweet Molasses has a clear red undertone based on its position in the color space. We identify undertones by isolating the pure hue (separating it from lightness and saturation), which avoids distortions caused by tints, tones, and shades.
This method is generally more reliable than judging undertones on a white background.
HEX value:
#534C4C
RGB code:
83, 76, 76
Is Valspar Bittersweet Molasses 8005-12G cool or warm?
warm
cool
With a hue of 0°, this black leans warm, but it's close to neutral and can read cooler in some light.
8005-12G Bittersweet Molasses HSL code: 0, 4%, 31%
Hue - degree on a color wheel from 0 to 360. 0 is red, 120 is green, and 240 is blue.
Saturation is expressed as a percentage. At 0%, it appears as a shade of grey, and at 100%, it is in full color.
Lightness is also a percentage value. 0% is black, and 100% is white.
How light temperature affects Bittersweet Molasses
Natural Lighting. During the day, natural light shifts from about 2000 K at sunrise/sunset to 5500–6500 K at noon.
In addition, natural‑light temperature depends on its direction:
| Direction of sunlight | Visible temp. | Hue | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Cool | Bluish | All day |
| East | Warm | Yellow | Before noon |
| West | Warm | Orange‑red | After noon |
| South | Warm | Orange‑yellow | All day |
Artificial Lighting. When choosing bulbs, pay attention to their color‑temperature (Kelvins).
Use the slider to see how this black shade looks under different lighting:
4000K
Coordinating colors.
Colors that go with Valspar Bittersweet Molasses:
Monochromatic color scheme
This scheme consists of various shades, tints, and tones of a single color. While it offers a perfect combination of hues, without accent décor it may become monotonous.
Lighter shades
8005-12G
Bittersweet Molasses
Darker shades
8005-12G
Bittersweet Molasses
Complementary color scheme
This color scheme is a combination of two shades that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The high contrast between these colors creates a vibrant and dynamic visual effect. For the color Bittersweet Molasses with a red hue, complementary colors are those with a green hue close to 180, such as Valspar Classic Damask and Tidepool Wonder.
LRV of Bittersweet Molasses
Bittersweet Molasses has an LRV of 8% and refers to Dark colors which means that this color almost does not reflect light. Why LRV is important?
Light Reflectance Value measures the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from a painted surface.
Simply put, the higher the LRV of a paint color, the brighter the room you will get.
The scale goes from 0% (absolute black, absorbing all light) to 100% (pure white, reflecting all light).
Act like a pro: When choosing paint with an LRV of 8%, pay attention to your bulbs' brightness. Light brightness is measured in lumens. The lower the paint's LRV, the higher lumen level you need. Every square foot of room needs at least 40 lumens. That means for a 200 ft2 living room you’ll need about 8000 lumens of light – e.g., eight 1000 lm bulbs.
Color codes
We have collected almost every possible color code you could ever need. To copy the code, just click the icon to the right of it.
| Format | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #534c4c |  |
| RGB Decimal | 83, 76, 76 | |
| RGB Percent | 32.55%, 29.80%, 29.80% | |
| HSV | Hue: 0° Saturation: 8.43% Value: 32.55% | |
| HSL | hsl(0, 4, 31) | |
| CMYK | Cyan: 0.0 Magenta: 8.43 Yellow: 8.43 Key: 67.45 | |
| YIQ | Y: 78.093 I: 4.171 Q: 1.481 | |
| XYZ | X: 7.456 Y: 7.53 Z: 7.896 | |
| CIE Lab | L:32.984 a:2.902 b:1.052 | |
| CIE Luv | L:32.984 u:3.919 v:0.848 | |
| Decimal | 5459020 | |
| Hunter Lab | 27.44, 0.48, 2.147 | |
Valspar 8005-12G Bittersweet Molasses
Copy color code
Color equivalents
MQ1-34
Instant Classic
Behr
S 7502-R
NCS
RAL 870-4
RAL Effect
N570-7
Black Elegance
Behr
RAL 870-M
RAL Effect
SW 9575
Metropolis
Sherwin Williams
36
Mahogany
Farrow and Ball
255
Tanner's Brown
Farrow and Ball
Javelin
Dulux
T501
Moon Rock
Valspar
V124-6
Soft Panther
Valspar
PPU24-02
Berry Brown
Behr
N530-7
Private Black
Behr
47RR 10/045
Rich Juniper
Dulux
AF-655
Silhouette
Benjamin Moore
N110-7
Black Garnet
Behr
X502
Lair
Tikkurila
RAL 870-5
RAL Effect
