# #281a51

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

## Values

- Hex: `#281a51`
- RGB: rgb(40, 26, 81)
- HSL: hsl(255, 51%, 21%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.271 0.096 290.2)
- Relative luminance: 0.0178
- Nearest named color: Azulado (#211d49, Δ 2.113) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/azulado
- Moods: cool, dark, luxury, bold, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/281a51

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #372470, #442d8b, #5437a9, #6546c3, #7f65cd, #9580d6, #af9fe0, #c9beea, #dfd8f3, #f9f7fd
- Shades (toward black): #241849, #221645, #1e143e, #1b1136, #191032, #150e2a, #110b23, #0d091b, #0b0717, #08050f

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #43511a
- Analogous: #1a2851, #431a51
- Triadic: #51281a, #1a5128
- Split-complementary: #51431a, #28511a
- Tetradic: #511a28, #43511a, #1a5143

## Colors that go with #281a51

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 #281a51: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Microsoft (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/microsoft-com), Plaid (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/plaid-com), Volkswagen (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/vw-com), Tide Pool (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#tide-pool). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #281a51'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), Penpot (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/penpot-app). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Sea Green** #2e8b57 [harmony, pool: split] — Sea Green is a split-complement of #281a51: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: Asana (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/asana-com), Subaru (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/subaru-com), Paramount+ (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/paramountplus-com), Wellness (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#wellness). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/seagreen
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: split] — Sienna is a split-complement of #281a51: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: Olive Grove (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#olive-grove), Woodsmoke (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#woodsmoke), BrandSweets (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/brandsweets), Harvest (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#harvest). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/sienna
- **Teal** #008080 [harmony, pool: triadic] — Teal completes a triad with #281a51 — three hues spaced evenly round the wheel, the classic way to get energy into a palette without a clash. Seen in: Lufthansa (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lufthansa-com), Alpine (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#alpine), 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 #281a51 in 7 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), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 16 real palettes, including Sketch's brand system and Monzo's brand system put Blue beside #281a51, 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
- **Burlywood** #deb887 [pool] — Burlywood is paired with #281a51 in 4 real palettes, including Coastal and Kiln, as the accent. Seen in: Coastal (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#coastal), Kiln (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#kiln), Chalkboard (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#chalkboard), Polaroid (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#polaroid). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/burlywood

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

- On white (#ffffff): 15.48:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass
- On black (#000000): 1.36:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #7f65cd (4.65:1); AA: background → #8c8c8c (4.6:1); AAA: text → #9f8bda (7.18:1); AAA: background → #b0b0b0 (7.14:1)

## 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/281a51-ab9cc4-dfbd4e-291f2d-e9ebf1?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: "#281a51" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.