# #42a4bd

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

## Values

- Hex: `#42a4bd`
- RGB: rgb(66, 164, 189)
- HSL: hsl(192, 48%, 50%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.671 0.097 217.7)
- Relative luminance: 0.3138
- Nearest named color: Frozen Wave (#56acca, Δ 3.303) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/frozen-wave
- Moods: cool, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/42a4bd

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #55adc3, #68b6ca, #77becf, #8ac7d6, #9dd0dd, #b0d9e3, #c3e2ea, #d2e9ef, #e5f2f6, #f7fbfc
- Shades (toward black): #3c94aa, #36879b, #307688, #2a6979, #245966, #1d4853, #183b44, #112b31, #0c1e22, #050d0f

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #bd5b42
- Analogous: #42bd98, #4267bd
- Triadic: #bd42a4, #a4bd42
- Split-complementary: #bd4267, #bd9842
- Tetradic: #9842bd, #bd5b42, #67bd42

## Colors that go with #42a4bd

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 #42a4bd: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Lido (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#lido), Lagoon (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#lagoon), Lamborghini (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lamborghini-com), Dusty Blue (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusty-blue). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Tomato** #ff6347 [harmony, pool: complementary] — Tomato sits directly opposite #42a4bd on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Lido (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#lido), Hermès (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hermes-com), Crayon Box (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#crayon-box), Substack (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/substack-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/tomato
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #42a4bd in 4 real palettes, including Beach Hut and Salesforce's brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut), Salesforce (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/salesforce-com), Blueprint (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#blueprint), NBA (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nba-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #42a4bd: 7 real palettes, including Gopro's brand system and Coca-Cola's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Gopro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gopro-com), Coca-Cola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/coca-cola-com), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Dodger Blue** #1e90ff [pool] — Designers have shipped Dodger Blue with #42a4bd: 4 real palettes, including Venmo's brand system and Figma's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com), Figma (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/figma), Studio Grey (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#studio-grey), Patreon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/patreon-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/dodgerblue
- **Midnight Blue** #191970 [pool] — 10 real palettes, including Ford's brand system and SoFi's brand system put Midnight Blue beside #42a4bd, as the lead colour. Seen in: Ford (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/ford-com), SoFi (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/sofi-com), Confluent (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/confluent-io), Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/midnightblue
- **Orange** #ffa500 [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Gopro's brand system and Mistral AI's brand system put Orange beside #42a4bd, as the accent. Seen in: Gopro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gopro-com), Mistral AI (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mistral-ai), Graphite (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#graphite), Olympics (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/olympics-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/orange
- **Orange Red** #ff4500 [pool] — Orange Red is paired with #42a4bd in 4 real palettes, including Launch Orange and Cursor's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Launch Orange (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/bold#launch-orange), Cursor (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/cursor-com), Figma (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/figma), Substack (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/substack-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/orangered

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.89:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #348093 (4.51:1); AA: background → #303030 (4.57:1); AAA: text → #265f6d (7.14:1); AAA: background → #050505 (7.06:1)
- On black (#000000): 7.28:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass

## 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/42a4bd-a2b5be-df4e77-1f242d-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: "#42a4bd" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.