# #3b80ab

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

## Values

- Hex: `#3b80ab`
- RGB: rgb(59, 128, 171)
- HSL: hsl(203, 49%, 45%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.574 0.096 238.9)
- Relative luminance: 0.1931
- Nearest named color: steelblue (#4682b4, Δ 1.83) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/steelblue
- Moods: cool, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/3b80ab

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #418ebe, #589cc6, #6ba7cc, #7eb2d3, #95c0db, #a8cbe1, #bbd6e8, #cee2ee, #e4eff6, #f7fafc
- Shades (toward black): #35759c, #30698d, #2b5e7d, #26526e, #21475f, #1a394c, #152d3d, #10222e, #0a171e, #050b0f

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #ab663b
- Analogous: #3bab9e, #3b48ab
- Triadic: #ab3b80, #80ab3b
- Split-complementary: #ab3b48, #ab9e3b
- Tetradic: #9e3bab, #ab663b, #48ab3b

## Colors that go with #3b80ab

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 #3b80ab: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut), Auth0 (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/auth0-com), Plaid (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/plaid-com), Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Copper** #b87333 [harmony, pool: complementary] — Copper sits directly opposite #3b80ab on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Notion (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/notion), Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Atelier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/elegant#atelier). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: analogous] — Royal Blue is #3b80ab's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Slate Workspace (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#slate-workspace), Guinness (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/guinness-com), Stripe (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/stripe), Chase (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/chase-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Rust** #b7410e [harmony, pool: split] — Rust is a split-complement of #3b80ab: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: Gallery (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#gallery), Magazine Ochre (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#magazine-ochre), Semrush (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/semrush-com), Noir Beauty (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#noir-beauty). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/rust
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #3b80ab in 9 real palettes, including Beach Hut and Wired's brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut), Wired (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wired-com), Lemon Squeezy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lemonsqueezy-com), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Activision's brand system and Qualcomm's brand system put Blue beside #3b80ab, as the accent. Seen in: Activision (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/activision-com), Qualcomm (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/qualcomm-com), Readymag (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/readymag-com), Pixar (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/pixar-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Cobalt Blue** #0047ab [pool] — Designers have shipped Cobalt Blue with #3b80ab: 8 real palettes, including Hershey's's brand system and Glacier, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Hershey's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hersheys-com), Glacier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#glacier), General Mills (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/generalmills-com), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #3b80ab in 16 real palettes, including Retro Pop and Wendy's's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), NASCAR (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nascar-com), Redfin (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/redfin-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson

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

- On white (#ffffff): 4.32:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #397da7 (4.5:1); AA: background → #0a0a0a (4.58:1); AAA: text → #2b5e7d (7:1)
- On black (#000000): 4.86:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #5c9ec7 (7.17:1)

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Beach Hut** (summer, light, clean, cool) — #2e86ab, #f6bd60, #f28482, #fbfcfd, #1b2a38 — Sea blue with sun-bleached yellow and a coral — striped-canvas summer, softened so it works on a screen. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/2e86ab-f6bd60-f28482-fbfcfd-1b2a38 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/summer

## 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/3b80ab-9cb0c4-df4e5d-1f222d-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: "#3b80ab" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.