# #538b8d

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

## Values

- Hex: `#538b8d`
- RGB: rgb(83, 139, 141)
- HSL: hsl(182, 26%, 44%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.599 0.059 198.6)
- Relative luminance: 0.2223
- Nearest named color: Arctic (#648589, Δ 2.299) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/arctic
- Moods: cool, muted
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/538b8d

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #5c9b9d, #6ea8aa, #7eb2b4, #92bdbf, #a2c7c8, #b2d1d2, #c5dcdd, #d5e6e6, #e9f1f2, #f9fbfb
- Shades (toward black): #4b7f81, #447274, #3c6567, #35595a, #2d4c4d, #263f40, #1e3333, #172627, #0f191a, #080d0d

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #8d5553
- Analogous: #538d72, #536e8d
- Triadic: #8d538b, #8b8d53
- Split-complementary: #8d536e, #8d7253
- Tetradic: #72538d, #8d5553, #6e8d53

## Colors that go with #538b8d

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 #538b8d: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Tide Pool (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#tide-pool), Bloomberg (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/bloomberg-com), Hermès (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hermes-com), PlayStation® Official Site: Consoles, Games, Accessories & MoreSony Interactive Entertainment (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/playstation-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Copper** #b87333 [harmony, pool: split] — Copper is a split-complement of #538b8d: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Wellness (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#wellness), Clean Beauty (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#clean-beauty), Atelier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/elegant#atelier). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Champagne** #f7e7ce [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Forest Floor and Midnight Luxe put Champagne beside #538b8d, as that palette's text colour. Seen in: Forest Floor (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#forest-floor), Midnight Luxe (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#midnight-luxe), Woodsmoke (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#woodsmoke), Coffee Bar (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#coffee-bar). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/champagne
- **Cobalt Blue** #0047ab [pool] — Designers have shipped Cobalt Blue with #538b8d: 5 real palettes, including Ink & Paper and Intel's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Ink & Paper (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#ink-and-paper), Intel (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/intel-com), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust), Hershey's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hersheys-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #538b8d in 9 real palettes, including Diner and Redfin's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Diner (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#diner), Redfin (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/redfin-com), Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), Five Guys (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/fiveguys-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #538b8d: 14 real palettes, including Peacock and Campus, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Peacock (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#peacock), Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), Intel (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/intel-com), Jack Daniel's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/jackdaniels-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Firebrick** #b22222 [pool] — Designers have shipped Firebrick with #538b8d: 4 real palettes, including Newsprint and Wendy's's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Newsprint (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#newsprint), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), Honda (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/honda-com), AT&T (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/att-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/firebrick
- **Goldenrod** #daa520 [pool] — Goldenrod shows up next to #538b8d in 5 real palettes, including Ledger Dark and Noir Beauty, as the lead colour. Seen in: Ledger Dark (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#ledger-dark), Noir Beauty (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#noir-beauty), Sapphire & Gold (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#sapphire-and-gold), Mid-Century (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#mid-century). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/goldenrod

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

- On white (#ffffff): 3.86:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #4b7f81 (4.51:1); AA: background → #1a1a1a (4.51:1); AAA: text → #395f60 (7.05:1)
- On black (#000000): 5.45:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #62a0a3 (7.08:1)

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Rain Garden** (spring, cool, muted, calm) — #4f8a8b, #a5c9a1, #f2b5a7, #f6f9f7, #1f3331 — Wet-leaf teal and moss with a soft peach — an overcast spring, calmer than the bright version and better for long reading. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/4f8a8b-a5c9a1-f2b5a7-f6f9f7-1f3331 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/spring

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/538b8d-a2babe-d45990-1f272d-e9f1ee?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: "#538b8d" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.