# #138ab9

A color — cool, vivid, technical, modern. Deterministic analysis from BrandSweets (no inference).

## Values

- Hex: `#138ab9`
- RGB: rgb(19, 138, 185)
- HSL: hsl(197, 81%, 40%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.596 0.118 232.3)
- Relative luminance: 0.2182
- Nearest named color: steelblue (#4682b4, Δ 3.233) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/steelblue
- Moods: cool, vivid, technical, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/138ab9

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #169ed4, #21b0e8, #39b8ea, #54c2ed, #70ccf0, #8cd6f3, #a7e0f6, #bee8f8, #daf2fb, #f6fcfe
- Shades (toward black): #117ca6, #107298, #0e6486, #0d5a78, #0b4c66, #093e53, #073445, #052633, #041c25, #020e12

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #b94213
- Analogous: #13b995, #1337b9
- Triadic: #b9138a, #8ab913
- Split-complementary: #b91337, #b99513
- Tetradic: #9513b9, #b94213, #37b913

## Colors that go with #138ab9

Named partners (harmony on the OKLCH wheel, co-occurrence in curated palettes and brand systems, and the neutrals that carry it), best first:

- **Charcoal** #36454f [role, pool] — Charcoal is the text near-black for #138ab9: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Auth0 (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/auth0-com), Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut), Plaid (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/plaid-com), Dusty Blue (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusty-blue). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Crimson** #dc143c [harmony, pool: split] — Crimson is a split-complement of #138ab9: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: NASCAR (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nascar-com), Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), Redfin (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/redfin-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #138ab9's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Slate Workspace (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#slate-workspace), Confluent (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/confluent-io), Elastic (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/elastic-co), HashiCorp (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hashicorp-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Copper** #b87333 [harmony, pool: complementary] — Copper sits directly opposite #138ab9 on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Notion (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/notion), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #138ab9 in 10 real palettes, including Beach Hut and Wired's brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut), Wired (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wired-com), Lemon Squeezy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lemonsqueezy-com), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 6 real palettes, including Readymag's brand system and Qualcomm's brand system put Blue beside #138ab9, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Readymag (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/readymag-com), Qualcomm (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/qualcomm-com), Activision (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/activision-com), Unity (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/unity-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Cobalt Blue** #0047ab [pool] — Designers have shipped Cobalt Blue with #138ab9: 7 real palettes, including Hershey's's brand system and Glacier, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Hershey's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hersheys-com), Glacier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#glacier), General Mills (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/generalmills-com), Intel (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/intel-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Deep Sky Blue** #00bfff [pool] — Designers have shipped Deep Sky Blue with #138ab9: 7 real palettes, including Telegram's brand system and Deep Water, as the lead colour. Seen in: Telegram (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/telegram-org), Deep Water (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#deep-water), Astro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/astro-build), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/deepskyblue

## Contrast (WCAG 2.x, as text)

- On white (#ffffff): 3.92:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #127fab (4.52:1); AA: background → #171717 (4.58:1); AAA: text → #0d5d7d (7.29:1)
- On black (#000000): 5.36:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #17a2d9 (7.21:1)

## Fonts for this mood

- technical: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/technical
- modern: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/modern

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/138ab9-9cb4c4-df4e6b-1f232d-e9f1ef?lock=0&style=vibrant
(Humans lock/regenerate in the tool; the URL is the state — read `lock=` back to see what they kept.)

## Connect an agent

Point any MCP client at the BrandSweets colors endpoint for the same engine:

- Endpoint: https://mcp.brandsweets.com/colors/mcp
- Tools: `analyze_color` (e.g. `analyze_color({ color: "#138ab9" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.
