# #256b8d

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

## Values

- Hex: `#256b8d`
- RGB: rgb(37, 107, 141)
- HSL: hsl(200, 58%, 35%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.5 0.087 233.7)
- Relative luminance: 0.1283
- Nearest named color: Chill of the Night (#256d8d, Δ 0.617) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/chill-of-the-night
- Moods: cool, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/256b8d

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #2c7da5, #3392c1, #46a0ce, #5eadd4, #7abbdc, #92c7e2, #aad4e9, #c3e0ef, #dfeff6, #f7fbfd
- Shades (toward black): #226181, #1f5875, #1c4f69, #19465d, #153d51, #113140, #0e2834, #0b1e28, #07151c, #040c10

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #8d4825
- Analogous: #258d7c, #25378d
- Triadic: #8d256b, #6b8d25
- Split-complementary: #8d2537, #8d7c25
- Tetradic: #7c258d, #8d4825, #378d25

## Colors that go with #256b8d

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 #256b8d: 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), Gusto (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gusto-com), Pampers (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/pampers-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Crimson** #dc143c [harmony, pool: split] — Crimson is a split-complement of #256b8d: 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), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), Gemstone (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#gemstone). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #256b8d'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), Xbox (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/xbox-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sienna sits directly opposite #256b8d 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), BrandSweets (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/brandsweets). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/sienna
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #256b8d in 7 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] — 4 real palettes, including Activision's brand system and Tesco's brand system put Blue beside #256b8d, 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 #256b8d: 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 #256b8d: 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): 5.89:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #215e7d (7.09:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.57:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #2c7da5 (4.58:1); AA: background → #e3e3e3 (4.59:1); AAA: text → #429ecd (7:1)

## Brands using this color

- **The New York Times** — accent #326891 (Δ 1.542) — 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
- **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

## Fonts for this mood

- 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/256b8d-9cb2c4-df4e64-1f232d-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: "#256b8d" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.