# #156e8a

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

## Values

- Hex: `#156e8a`
- RGB: rgb(21, 110, 138)
- HSL: hsl(194, 74%, 31%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.502 0.089 225)
- Relative luminance: 0.1315
- Nearest named color: Chill of the Night (#256d8d, Δ 1.05) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/chill-of-the-night
- Moods: cool, vivid, technical, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/156e8a

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #1987a9, #1d9cc3, #26b3df, #45bee3, #64c9e8, #7ed2ec, #9dddf0, #bce8f5, #d7f1f9, #f6fcfe
- Shades (toward black): #13647c, #115c73, #0f5266, #0d4759, #0c4050, #0a3543, #082b35, #062028, #05191f, #030e12

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #8a3015
- Analogous: #158a6a, #15348a
- Triadic: #8a156e, #6e8a15
- Split-complementary: #8a1534, #8a6a15
- Tetradic: #6a158a, #8a3015, #348a15

## Colors that go with #156e8a

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 #156e8a: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Gusto (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gusto-com), Amazon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/amazon-com), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), Pampers (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/pampers-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Crimson** #dc143c [harmony, pool: split] — Crimson is a split-complement of #156e8a: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), Gemstone (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#gemstone), Redfin (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/redfin-com), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #156e8a's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Stripe (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/stripe), Motorola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/motorola-com), GitHub (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/github), Slate Workspace (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#slate-workspace). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Rust** #b7410e [harmony, pool: complementary] — Rust sits directly opposite #156e8a on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Magazine Ochre (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#magazine-ochre), Gallery (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#gallery). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/rust
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #156e8a in 6 real palettes, including Lemon Squeezy's brand system and McDonald's's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Lemon Squeezy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lemonsqueezy-com), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), Wired (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wired-com), Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 5 real palettes, including Activision's brand system and Tesco's brand system put Blue beside #156e8a, as the accent. Seen in: Activision (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/activision-com), Tesco (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/tesco-com), Pixar (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/pixar-com), CVS (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/cvs-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Cobalt Blue** #0047ab [pool] — Designers have shipped Cobalt Blue with #156e8a: 7 real palettes, including Fintech Trust and Glacier, as the lead colour. Seen in: Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust), Glacier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#glacier), Hershey's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hersheys-com), General Mills (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/generalmills-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #156e8a: 4 real palettes, including Dusk and Desert Road, as the accent. Seen in: Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road), Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Clay & Linen (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#clay-and-linen). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper

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

- On white (#ffffff): 5.79:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #126078 (7.07:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.63:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #1880a0 (4.63:1); AA: background → #e3e3e3 (4.51:1); AAA: text → #1ea4cc (7.24:1)

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Clinic** (clean, cool, light) — #0e7490, #64748b, #f97316, #f8fafc, #0f172a — Teal reads clinical without the coldness of pure blue; the coral accent adds warmth for reassurance moments. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/0e7490-64748b-f97316-f8fafc-0f172a — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean
- **Alpine** (cool, clean, light) — #1f6f8b, #7fa2b6, #e76f51, #f5f8fa, #15222e — Glacier blue with a safety-orange accent: technical outdoor gear, not lifestyle. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/1f6f8b-7fa2b6-e76f51-f5f8fa-15222e — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool
- **Sapphire & Gold** (jewel-tones, luxury, cool, elegant) — #1e3a8a, #c9a227, #0e7490, #f7f6f2, #111827 — Deep sapphire and gold with a teal — old-money jewel tones on an ivory ground; heraldic without a crest. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/1e3a8a-c9a227-0e7490-f7f6f2-111827 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/jewel-tones

## 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/156e8a-9cb6c4-df4e72-1f242d-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: "#156e8a" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.
