# #281a5b

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

## Values

- Hex: `#281a5b`
- RGB: rgb(40, 26, 91)
- HSL: hsl(253, 56%, 23%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.28 0.11 286.9)
- Relative luminance: 0.0195
- Nearest named color: Fabric of Space (#341758, Δ 2.576) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/fabric-of-space
- Moods: cool, dark, luxury, bold, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/281a5b

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #36237b, #422b97, #5034b7, #6144ca, #7c64d3, #9480db, #aea0e4, #c6bbec, #e1dbf5, #f8f7fd
- Shades (toward black): #251854, #21154c, #1e1344, #1a113c, #181038, #150d30, #110b28, #0e0920, #0a0718, #070410

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #4d5b1a
- Analogous: #1a2c5b, #491a5b
- Triadic: #5b281a, #1a5b28
- Split-complementary: #5b491a, #2c5b1a
- Tetradic: #5b1a2c, #4d5b1a, #1a5b49

## Colors that go with #281a5b

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 #281a5b: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Plaid (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/plaid-com), CeraVe (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/cerave-com), Microsoft (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/microsoft-com), Volkswagen (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/vw-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Sea Green** #2e8b57 [harmony, pool: split] — Sea Green is a split-complement of #281a5b: 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
- **Steel Blue** #4682b4 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Steel Blue is #281a5b's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Discover (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/discover-com), Plaid (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/plaid-com), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust), Deep Water (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#deep-water). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/steelblue
- **Teal** #008080 [harmony, pool: triadic] — Teal completes a triad with #281a5b — 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 #281a5b in 6 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] — 11 real palettes, including Sketch's brand system and Monzo's brand system put Blue beside #281a5b, 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), Readymag (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/readymag-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Cadet Blue** #5f9ea0 [pool] — Designers have shipped Cadet Blue with #281a5b: 8 real palettes, including SoFi's brand system and Open House, as the supporting colour. Seen in: SoFi (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/sofi-com), Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house), Coastal (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#coastal), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cadetblue
- **Cobalt Blue** #0047ab [pool] — Designers have shipped Cobalt Blue with #281a5b: 9 real palettes, including Blue Mono and MLB's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Blue Mono (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#blue-mono), MLB (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mlb-com), Purina Pro Plan (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/chewy-com), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt

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

- On white (#ffffff): 15.12:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass
- On black (#000000): 1.39:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #7c64d3 (4.62:1); AA: background → #8f8f8f (4.67:1); AAA: text → #9e8cde (7.26:1); AAA: background → #b3b3b3 (7.21:1)

## 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/281a5b-a99cc4-dfb84e-281f2d-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: "#281a5b" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.