# #256ca2

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

## Values

- Hex: `#256ca2`
- RGB: rgb(37, 108, 162)
- HSL: hsl(206, 63%, 39%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.514 0.11 245.6)
- Relative luminance: 0.1373
- Nearest named color: Brilliant Blue (#0075b3, Δ 3.299) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brilliant-blue
- Moods: cool, vivid, technical, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/256ca2

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #2a7cbb, #338dd1, #4c9bd6, #65a9dc, #7eb7e2, #93c2e6, #acd0ec, #c5def2, #deecf7, #f7fafd
- Shades (toward black): #226496, #1e5885, #1b5079, #184568, #153d5b, #11324b, #0e293e, #0a1e2e, #081621, #040b11

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #a25b25
- Analogous: #25a29a, #252da2
- Triadic: #a2256c, #6ca225
- Split-complementary: #a2252d, #a29a25
- Tetradic: #9a25a2, #a25b25, #2da225

## Colors that go with #256ca2

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 #256ca2: 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 #256ca2'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
- **Rust** #b7410e [harmony, pool: split] — Rust is a split-complement of #256ca2: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: Magazine Ochre (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#magazine-ochre), Etsy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/etsy-com), Semrush (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/semrush-com), Gallery (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#gallery). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/rust
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sienna sits directly opposite #256ca2 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 #256ca2 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 #256ca2, 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 #256ca2: 8 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 #256ca2 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

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

- On white (#ffffff): 5.61:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #1f5b89 (7.2:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.75:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #2a7ab7 (4.57:1); AA: background → #e8e8e8 (4.58:1); AAA: text → #509dd7 (7.15:1)

## Brands using this color

- **Discover** — secondary #1e71ac (Δ 1.886) — 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/256ca2-9caec4-df4e56-1f212d-e9f1f1?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: "#256ca2" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.