# #281a42

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

## Values

- Hex: `#281a42`
- RGB: rgb(40, 26, 66)
- HSL: hsl(261, 43%, 18%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.258 0.073 297.2)
- Relative luminance: 0.0158
- Nearest named color: Azulado (#211d49, Δ 1.937) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/azulado
- Moods: cool, dark, luxury, bold, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/281a42

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #3a265f, #4c317c, #5d3d99, #6f49b6, #8666c2, #9d83ce, #b4a0d9, #cbbde5, #e2dbf0, #f9f8fc
- Shades (toward black): #26193e, #211637, #1f1433, #1b112c, #181028, #160f24, #120c1d, #100a1a, #0b0712, #09060f

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #34421a
- Analogous: #1a2042, #3c1a42
- Triadic: #42281a, #1a4228
- Split-complementary: #423c1a, #20421a
- Tetradic: #421a20, #34421a, #1a423c

## Colors that go with #281a42

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 #281a42: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Volkswagen (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/vw-com), Microsoft (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/microsoft-com), Tide Pool (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#tide-pool), Plaid (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/plaid-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Dark Olive Green** #556b2f [harmony, pool: complementary] — Dark Olive Green sits directly opposite #281a42 on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Cohere (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/cohere-com), 7-Eleven (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/7-eleven-com), Warp (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/warp-dev), Oatmeal (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/neutral#oatmeal). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkolivegreen
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #281a42's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Telehealth (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/modern#telehealth), GEICO (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/geico-com), Spectrum (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/spectrum-com), Subaru (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/subaru-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Sea Green** #2e8b57 [harmony, pool: split] — Sea Green is a split-complement of #281a42: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: Subaru (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/subaru-com), Asana (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/asana-com), Wellness (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#wellness), Mushroom (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/neutral#mushroom). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/seagreen
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: triadic] — Sienna completes a triad with #281a42 — three hues spaced evenly round the wheel, the classic way to get energy into a palette without a clash. Seen in: Woodsmoke (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#woodsmoke), BrandSweets (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/brandsweets), Olive Grove (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#olive-grove), Harvest (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#harvest). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/sienna
- **Teal** #008080 [harmony, pool: triadic] — Teal completes a triad with #281a42 — three hues spaced evenly round the wheel, the classic way to get energy into a palette without a clash. Seen in: Alpine (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#alpine), Lufthansa (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lufthansa-com), Clinic (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#clinic), Sapphire & Gold (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#sapphire-and-gold). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/teal
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #281a42 in 18 real palettes, including Southwest Airlines's brand system and Beach Hut, as the accent. Seen in: Southwest Airlines (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/southwest-com), Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut), Blueprint (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#blueprint), Wikipedia (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wikipedia-org). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 20 real palettes, including Sketch's brand system and Monzo's brand system put Blue beside #281a42, as the accent. Seen in: Sketch (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/sketch-com), Monzo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/monzo-com), Penpot (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/penpot-app), Warp (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/warp-dev). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue

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

- On white (#ffffff): 15.95:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass
- On black (#000000): 1.32:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #8666c2 (4.69:1); AA: background → #8a8a8a (4.62:1); AAA: text → #a38ad0 (7.1:1); AAA: background → #adadad (7.11:1)

## Fonts for this mood

- luxury: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/luxury
- bold: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/bold
- 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/281a42-af9cc4-dfcb4e-2a1f2d-e9eaf1?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: "#281a42" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.