# #42a8cd

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

## Values

- Hex: `#42a8cd`
- RGB: rgb(66, 168, 205)
- HSL: hsl(196, 58%, 53%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.688 0.107 225.8)
- Relative luminance: 0.3357
- Nearest named color: Cousteau (#55a9d6, Δ 2.069) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cousteau
- Moods: cool, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/42a8cd

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #56b1d2, #66b8d6, #7ac2dc, #8ac9e0, #9ed2e5, #aedaea, #c3e3ef, #d3ebf3, #e7f4f9, #f7fbfd
- Shades (toward black): #339cc1, #2e8bad, #297b99, #236b85, #1f5e75, #1a4e61, #143e4d, #0f2d38, #0a1d24, #040d10

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #cd6742
- Analogous: #42cdac, #4262cd
- Triadic: #cd42a8, #a8cd42
- Split-complementary: #cd4262, #cdac42
- Tetradic: #ac42cd, #cd6742, #62cd42

## Colors that go with #42a8cd

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 #42a8cd: 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), Blizzard (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/blizzard-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Terracotta** #e2725b [harmony, pool: complementary] — Terracotta sits directly opposite #42a8cd on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Alpine (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#alpine), Resort (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#resort), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/terracotta
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #42a8cd in 6 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] — 4 real palettes, including Canva's brand system and Warp's brand system put Blue beside #42a8cd, 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
- **Dark Orange** #ff8c00 [pool] — Dark Orange shows up next to #42a8cd in 4 real palettes, including Elastic's brand system and Learning App, as the lead colour. Seen in: Elastic (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/elastic-co), Learning App (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#learning-app), Ahrefs (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/ahrefs-com), PayPal (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/paypal-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkorange
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #42a8cd: 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 #42a8cd: 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), Opensea (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/opensea-io). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/dodgerblue
- **Medium Sea Green** #3cb371 [pool] — Medium Sea Green is paired with #42a8cd in 4 real palettes, including Terminal and Unity's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Terminal (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#terminal), Unity (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/unity-com), Olympics (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/olympics-com), Khan Academy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/khanacademy-org). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/mediumseagreen

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.72:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #2a7e9d (4.6:1); AA: background → #333333 (4.64:1); AAA: text → #1f5e75 (7.2:1); AAA: background → #0f0f0f (7.04:1)
- On black (#000000): 7.71:1 — 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/42a8cd-9cb5c4-df4e6e-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: "#42a8cd" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.