# #256dad

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

## Values

- Hex: `#256dad`
- RGB: rgb(37, 109, 173)
- HSL: hsl(208, 65%, 41%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.523 0.123 249.4)
- Relative luminance: 0.1435
- Nearest named color: Brilliant Blue (#0075b3, Δ 2.349) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brilliant-blue
- Moods: cool, vivid, technical, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/256dad

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #2a7dc6, #358ad4, #4e99da, #68a7df, #81b6e4, #96c2e9, #afd1ee, #c8dff3, #ddebf8, #f7fafd
- Shades (toward black): #21629c, #1e5a8f, #1b507e, #17456d, #153d61, #113350, #0d283f, #0a1d2e, #071522, #040b11

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #ad6425
- Analogous: #25ada8, #2529ad
- Triadic: #ad256d, #6dad25
- Split-complementary: #ad2529, #ada825
- Tetradic: #a825ad, #ad6425, #29ad25

## Colors that go with #256dad

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 #256dad: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Amazon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/amazon-com), Hinge (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hinge-co), Jack Daniel's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/jackdaniels-com), Starlink (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/starlink-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Crimson** #dc143c [harmony, pool: triadic] — Crimson completes a triad with #256dad — three hues spaced evenly round the wheel, the classic way to get energy into a palette without a clash. Seen in: McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), State Farm (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/statefarm-com), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), NASCAR (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nascar-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Rust** #b7410e [harmony, pool: split] — Rust is a split-complement of #256dad: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: Etsy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/etsy-com), Wayfair (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wayfair-com), Magazine Ochre (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#magazine-ochre), Semrush (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/semrush-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/rust
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sienna sits directly opposite #256dad 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 #256dad 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] — 10 real palettes, including Activision's brand system and Pixar's brand system put Blue beside #256dad, 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 #256dad: 10 real palettes, including Glacier and General Mills's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Glacier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#glacier), General Mills (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/generalmills-com), Intel (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/intel-com), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Cornflower Blue** #6495ed [pool] — Designers have shipped Cornflower Blue with #256dad: 4 real palettes, including Coca-Cola's brand system and NBA's brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Coca-Cola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/coca-cola-com), NBA (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nba-com), Gopro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gopro-com), Webflow (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/webflow-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cornflowerblue

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

- On white (#ffffff): 5.43:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #1e5a8f (7.21:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.87:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #2878bd (4.51:1); AA: background → #ebebeb (4.55:1); AAA: text → #529bda (7.06:1)

## Brands using this color

- **Discover** — secondary #1e71ac (Δ 1.197) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/discover-com
- **McDonald's** — accent #006bae (Δ 1.591) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com
- **British Airways** — secondary #3468ad (Δ 1.628) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/britishairways-com
- **AT&T** — secondary #0072b2 (Δ 1.708) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/att-com
- **Linkedin** — primary #0073b1 (Δ 1.874) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/linkedin-com
- **LEGO** — accent #006db7 (Δ 1.956) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lego-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/256dad-9cadc4-df4e51-1f212d-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: "#256dad" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.