# #42a5cd

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

## Values

- Hex: `#42a5cd`
- RGB: rgb(66, 165, 205)
- HSL: hsl(197, 58%, 53%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.681 0.108 228.4)
- Relative luminance: 0.3248
- Nearest named color: Cousteau (#55a9d6, Δ 2.313) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cousteau
- Moods: cool, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/42a5cd

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #56afd2, #66b6d6, #7ac0dc, #8ac8e0, #9ed1e5, #aed9ea, #c3e2ef, #d3eaf3, #e7f4f9, #f7fbfd
- Shades (toward black): #3399c1, #2e89ad, #297999, #236985, #1f5d75, #1a4d61, #143d4d, #0f2d38, #0a1d24, #040d10

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #cd6942
- Analogous: #42cdaf, #4260cd
- Triadic: #cd42a5, #a5cd42
- Split-complementary: #cd4260, #cdaf42
- Tetradic: #af42cd, #cd6942, #60cd42

## Colors that go with #42a5cd

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 #42a5cd: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Lido (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#lido), Lamborghini (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lamborghini-com), Lagoon (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#lagoon), Dusty Blue (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusty-blue). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Bronze** #cd7f32 [harmony, pool: complementary] — Bronze sits directly opposite #42a5cd on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Opensea (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/opensea-io). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/bronze
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #42a5cd in 7 real palettes, including Salesforce's brand system and Blueprint, as the accent. Seen in: Salesforce (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/salesforce-com), Blueprint (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#blueprint), NBA (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nba-com), Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 5 real palettes, including Canva's brand system and Warp's brand system put Blue beside #42a5cd, as the accent. Seen in: Canva (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/canva-com), Warp (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/warp-dev), Unity (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/unity-com), Qualcomm (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/qualcomm-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #42a5cd: 7 real palettes, including Coca-Cola's brand system and Gopro's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Coca-Cola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/coca-cola-com), Gopro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gopro-com), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-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 #42a5cd: 5 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), Patreon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/patreon-com), Studio Grey (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#studio-grey). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/dodgerblue
- **Midnight Blue** #191970 [pool] — 9 real palettes, including Confluent's brand system and SoFi's brand system put Midnight Blue beside #42a5cd, as the lead colour. Seen in: Confluent (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/confluent-io), SoFi (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/sofi-com), Ford (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/ford-com), Kraken (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/kraken-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/midnightblue
- **Mustard Yellow** #ffdb58 [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Lido and Diner put Mustard Yellow beside #42a5cd, as the accent. Seen in: Lido (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#lido), Diner (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#diner), Star Wars (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/starwars-com), Crayon Box (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#crayon-box). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/mustard

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.8:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #2a7c9d (4.7:1); AA: background → #333333 (4.51:1); AAA: text → #1f5d75 (7.29:1); AAA: background → #0a0a0a (7.07:1)
- On black (#000000): 7.5:1 — 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/42a5cd-9cb4c4-df4e6b-1f232d-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: "#42a5cd" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.