# #196ca4

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

## Values

- Hex: `#196ca4`
- RGB: rgb(25, 108, 164)
- HSL: hsl(204, 74%, 37%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.512 0.116 244.3)
- Relative luminance: 0.1361
- Nearest named color: Brilliant Blue (#0075b3, Δ 3.094) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brilliant-blue
- Moods: cool, vivid, technical, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/196ca4

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #1d7ebf, #208fd9, #379de1, #52aae5, #71b9ea, #8cc7ee, #a6d4f2, #c1e1f6, #dceefa, #f6fbfe
- Shades (toward black): #176497, #145885, #124f78, #10466a, #0e3d5d, #0b324b, #09293e, #072031, #05141f, #030c12

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #a45019
- Analogous: #19a496, #1926a4
- Triadic: #a4196c, #6ca419
- Split-complementary: #a41926, #a49619
- Tetradic: #9619a4, #a45019, #26a419

## Colors that go with #196ca4

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 #196ca4: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Amazon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/amazon-com), Hasbro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hasbro-com), Hinge (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hinge-co), Jack Daniel's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/jackdaniels-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #196ca4's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Xbox (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/xbox-com), Motorola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/motorola-com), Guinness (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/guinness-com), Chase (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/chase-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sienna sits directly opposite #196ca4 on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Dyson (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/dyson-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/sienna
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #196ca4 in 8 real palettes, including McDonald's's brand system and Lemon Squeezy's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), Lemon Squeezy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lemonsqueezy-com), Wired (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wired-com), Warner Bros. (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/warnerbros-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 6 real palettes, including Activision's brand system and Pixar's brand system put Blue beside #196ca4, as the accent. Seen in: Activision (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/activision-com), Pixar (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/pixar-com), Tesco (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/tesco-com), CVS (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/cvs-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Cobalt Blue** #0047ab [pool] — Designers have shipped Cobalt Blue with #196ca4: 9 real palettes, including Glacier and Fintech Trust, as the accent. Seen in: Glacier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#glacier), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust), General Mills (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/generalmills-com), Intel (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/intel-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #196ca4 in 17 real palettes, including McDonald's's brand system and Wendy's's brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), State Farm (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/statefarm-com), Costco (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/costco-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Deep Sky Blue** #00bfff [pool] — Designers have shipped Deep Sky Blue with #196ca4: 4 real palettes, including Venmo's brand system and Deep Water, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com), Deep Water (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#deep-water), Astro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/astro-build), Telegram (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/telegram-org). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/deepskyblue

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

- On white (#ffffff): 5.64:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #155b8a (7.25:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.72:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #1c7bba (4.59:1); AA: background → #e6e6e6 (4.52:1); AAA: text → #379de1 (7.07:1)

## Brands using this color

- **McDonald's** — accent #006bae (Δ 1.79) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com
- **Discover** — secondary #1e71ac (Δ 1.831) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/discover-com

## 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/196ca4-9cafc4-df4e5a-1f222d-e9f1f0?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: "#196ca4" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.