# #286ca4

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

## Values

- Hex: `#286ca4`
- RGB: rgb(40, 108, 164)
- HSL: hsl(207, 61%, 40%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.516 0.112 247.2)
- Relative luminance: 0.1386
- Nearest named color: Brilliant Blue (#0075b3, Δ 3.139) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brilliant-blue
- Moods: cool, vivid, technical, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/286ca4

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #2e7cbd, #3a8ccf, #4e98d4, #67a6da, #80b5e0, #98c3e6, #b1d2ec, #c6ddf1, #deecf7, #f7fafd
- Shades (toward black): #246194, #215987, #1d4e77, #1a466b, #163c5a, #12314a, #0f293e, #0b1e2d, #081621, #040b10

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #a46028
- Analogous: #28a49e, #282ea4
- Triadic: #a4286c, #6ca428
- Split-complementary: #a4282e, #a49e28
- Tetradic: #9e28a4, #a46028, #2ea428

## Colors that go with #286ca4

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 #286ca4: 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 #286ca4 — 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), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), State Farm (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/statefarm-com), Costco (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/costco-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #286ca4's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Xbox (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/xbox-com), Motorola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/motorola-com), Guinness (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/guinness-com), Chase (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/chase-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Rust** #b7410e [harmony, pool: split] — Rust is a split-complement of #286ca4: 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), Magazine Ochre (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#magazine-ochre), Semrush (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/semrush-com), Gallery (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#gallery). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/rust
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sienna sits directly opposite #286ca4 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 #286ca4 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] — 6 real palettes, including Activision's brand system and Pixar's brand system put Blue beside #286ca4, 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 #286ca4: 9 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), General Mills (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/generalmills-com), Hershey's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hersheys-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt

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

- On white (#ffffff): 5.57:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #225c8c (7.05:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.77:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #2d7ab9 (4.6:1); AA: background → #e8e8e8 (4.54:1); AAA: text → #579dd6 (7.2:1)

## Brands using this color

- **Discover** — secondary #1e71ac (Δ 1.688) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/discover-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/286ca4-9cadc4-df4e53-1f212d-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: "#286ca4" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.