# #38bcd6

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

## Values

- Hex: `#38bcd6`
- RGB: rgb(56, 188, 214)
- HSL: hsl(190, 66%, 53%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.736 0.116 214)
- Relative luminance: 0.4166
- Nearest named color: Blue Martini (#52b4d3, Δ 2.398) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue-martini
- Moods: cool, vivid, technical, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/38bcd6

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #4dc3db, #5ec9de, #73d0e2, #84d6e6, #99ddea, #aae2ee, #c0eaf2, #d0eff5, #e6f6fa, #f7fcfd
- Shades (toward black): #2ab0cb, #259eb6, #218ca1, #1d798c, #196a7b, #155866, #104650, #0c333b, #082126, #030f11

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #d65238
- Analogous: #38d6a2, #386dd6
- Triadic: #d638bc, #bcd638
- Split-complementary: #d6386d, #d6a238
- Tetradic: #a238d6, #d65238, #6dd638

## Colors that go with #38bcd6

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 #38bcd6: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Lagoon (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#lagoon), Lamborghini (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lamborghini-com), Lido (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#lido), Vimeo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/vimeo-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Dark Orange** #ff8c00 [harmony, pool: split] — Dark Orange is a split-complement of #38bcd6: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: Learning App (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#learning-app), Elastic (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/elastic-co), PayPal (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/paypal-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkorange
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #38bcd6: 6 real palettes, including Coca-Cola's brand system and Venmo's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Coca-Cola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/coca-cola-com), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com), UEFA (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/uefa-com), Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Dodger Blue** #1e90ff [pool] — Designers have shipped Dodger Blue with #38bcd6: 4 real palettes, including Patreon's brand system and Figma's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Patreon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/patreon-com), Figma (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/figma), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com), Opensea (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/opensea-io). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/dodgerblue
- **Midnight Blue** #191970 [pool] — 8 real palettes, including Confluent's brand system and Ford's brand system put Midnight Blue beside #38bcd6, as the lead colour. Seen in: Confluent (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/confluent-io), Ford (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/ford-com), SoFi (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/sofi-com), Kraken (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/kraken-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/midnightblue
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [pool] — Royal Blue is paired with #38bcd6 in 8 real palettes, including Confluent's brand system and Elastic's brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Confluent (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/confluent-io), Elastic (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/elastic-co), 1password (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/1password-com), NBA (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nba-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Taupe** #483c32 [pool] — Taupe is paired with #38bcd6 in 10 real palettes, including Cursor's brand system and Crayon Box, as the text colour against it. Seen in: Cursor (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/cursor-com), Crayon Box (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#crayon-box), Astro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/astro-build), Polaroid (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#polaroid). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/taupe
- **Salmon** #fa8072 [harmony: complementary] — Salmon sits directly opposite #38bcd6 on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. — https://brandsweets.com/colors/salmon

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.25:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #1e8194 (4.54:1); AA: background → #404040 (4.61:1); AAA: text → #175f6e (7.25:1); AAA: background → #212121 (7.16:1)
- On black (#000000): 9.33:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass

## Brands using this color

- **Perplexity** — accent #1fb8cd (Δ 1.993) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/perplexity

## 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/38bcd6-a2b6be-df4e7c-1f252d-e9f1ef?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: "#38bcd6" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.