# #396b8e

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

## Values

- Hex: `#396b8e`
- RGB: rgb(57, 107, 142)
- HSL: hsl(205, 43%, 39%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.508 0.078 241.1)
- Relative luminance: 0.1334
- Nearest named color: Chill of the Night (#256d8d, Δ 1.642) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/chill-of-the-night
- Moods: cool, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/396b8e

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #417ba4, #4c8bb8, #6299c0, #78a7c9, #8eb6d2, #a0c1d9, #b6d0e2, #ccdeeb, #e2ecf3, #f8fafc
- Shades (toward black): #346283, #2f5775, #2a4f6a, #24445b, #203c50, #1a3142, #162937, #101e28, #0c161d, #060b0f

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #8e5c39
- Analogous: #398e87, #39408e
- Triadic: #8e396b, #6b8e39
- Split-complementary: #8e3940, #8e8739
- Tetradic: #87398e, #8e5c39, #408e39

## Colors that go with #396b8e

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 #396b8e: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Amazon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/amazon-com), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), Gusto (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gusto-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #396b8e's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Stripe (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/stripe), Motorola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/motorola-com), Slate Workspace (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#slate-workspace), GitHub (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/github). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Sienna** #a0522d [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sienna sits directly opposite #396b8e 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), BrandSweets (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/brandsweets). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/sienna
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #396b8e in 7 real palettes, including Lemon Squeezy's brand system and McDonald's's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Lemon Squeezy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lemonsqueezy-com), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), Wired (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wired-com), Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Activision's brand system and Pixar's brand system put Blue beside #396b8e, 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 #396b8e: 7 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), Hershey's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hersheys-com), General Mills (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/generalmills-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #396b8e: 4 real palettes, including Dusk and Desert Road, as the accent. Seen in: Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road), Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Clay & Linen (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#clay-and-linen). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #396b8e in 18 real palettes, including Wendy's's brand system and Retro Pop, as the lead colour. Seen in: Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), Redfin (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/redfin-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson

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

- On white (#ffffff): 5.73:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #315d7c (7.03:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.67:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #417ba4 (4.59:1); AA: background → #e6e6e6 (4.59:1); AAA: text → #669cc2 (7.1:1)

## Brands using this color

- **The New York Times** — accent #326891 (Δ 1.355) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nytimes-com

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Open House** (clean, cool, modern) — #2f6690, #8fa3b8, #e3a72f, #ffffff, #1b2a41 — Steel blue for trust, warm gold for the sold moment — an approachable brokerage that still feels established. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/2f6690-8fa3b8-e3a72f-ffffff-1b2a41 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean

## Fonts for this mood

- 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/396b8e-9cafc4-df4e58-1f212d-e9f1f0?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: "#396b8e" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.