# #256e98

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

## Values

- Hex: `#256e98`
- RGB: rgb(37, 110, 152)
- HSL: hsl(202, 61%, 37%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.513 0.097 238.4)
- Relative luminance: 0.1381
- Nearest named color: Chill of the Night (#256d8d, Δ 1.754) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/chill-of-the-night
- Moods: cool, vivid, technical, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/256e98

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #2b7fb1, #3191c9, #469fd2, #5facd8, #7cbbdf, #94c7e5, #add4eb, #c6e1f1, #deeef7, #f7fbfd
- Shades (toward black): #22658c, #1e597b, #1b506f, #184763, #153e56, #113246, #0e2a39, #0b212d, #07151d, #040c10

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #984f25
- Analogous: #259889, #253498
- Triadic: #98256e, #6e9825
- Split-complementary: #982534, #988925
- Tetradic: #892598, #984f25, #349825

## Colors that go with #256e98

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 #256e98: 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), Auth0 (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/auth0-com), Gusto (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gusto-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #256e98'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), Slate Workspace (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#slate-workspace). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sienna sits directly opposite #256e98 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 #256e98 in 8 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 Pixar's brand system put Blue beside #256e98, 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 #256e98: 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
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #256e98 in 17 real palettes, including Wendy's's brand system and McDonald's's brand system, as the lead colour. 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), 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 #256e98: 4 real palettes, including Deep Water and Venmo's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Deep Water (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#deep-water), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com), 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): 5.58:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #1f5c7f (7.25:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.76:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #2a7dac (4.63:1); AA: background → #e8e8e8 (4.56:1); AAA: text → #469fd2 (7.15:1)

## Brands using this color

- **The New York Times** — accent #326891 (Δ 1.901) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nytimes-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/256e98-9cb1c4-df4e5f-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: "#256e98" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.