# #256a98

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

## Values

- Hex: `#256a98`
- RGB: rgb(37, 106, 152)
- HSL: hsl(204, 61%, 37%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.503 0.1 242.1)
- Relative luminance: 0.1297
- Nearest named color: Chill of the Night (#256d8d, Δ 2.214) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/chill-of-the-night
- Moods: cool, vivid, technical, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/256a98

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #2b7bb1, #318cc9, #469ad2, #5fa8d8, #7cb7df, #94c5e5, #add2eb, #c6e0f1, #deedf7, #f7fbfd
- Shades (toward black): #22618c, #1e567b, #1b4d6f, #184563, #153c56, #113146, #0e2839, #0b1f2d, #07141d, #040b10

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #985325
- Analogous: #25988c, #253098
- Triadic: #98256a, #6a9825
- Split-complementary: #982530, #988c25
- Tetradic: #8c2598, #985325, #309825

## Colors that go with #256a98

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 #256a98: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Amazon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/amazon-com), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), Hasbro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hasbro-com), Hinge (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hinge-co). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #256a98's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Motorola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/motorola-com), Xbox (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/xbox-com), Stripe (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/stripe), Guinness (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/guinness-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sienna sits directly opposite #256a98 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 #256a98 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] — 4 real palettes, including Activision's brand system and Pixar's brand system put Blue beside #256a98, 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 #256a98: 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), General Mills (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/generalmills-com), Hershey's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hersheys-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #256a98 in 18 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), Costco (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/costco-com), State Farm (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/statefarm-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Deep Sky Blue** #00bfff [pool] — Designers have shipped Deep Sky Blue with #256a98: 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): 5.84:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #205c83 (7.19:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.59:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #2b7bb1 (4.57:1); AA: background → #e3e3e3 (4.55:1); AAA: text → #4e9fd4 (7.23:1)

## Brands using this color

- **The New York Times** — accent #326891 (Δ 1.351) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nytimes-com

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Open House** (clean, cool, modern) — #2f6690, #8fa3b8, #e3a72f, #ffffff, #1b2a41 — Steel blue for trust, warm gold for the sold moment — an approachable brokerage that still feels established. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/2f6690-8fa3b8-e3a72f-ffffff-1b2a41 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean

## 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/256a98-9cafc4-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: "#256a98" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.