# #686b66

A color — neutral, minimal. Deterministic analysis from BrandSweets (no inference).

## Values

- Hex: `#686b66`
- RGB: rgb(104, 107, 102)
- HSL: hsl(96, 2%, 41%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.524 0.009 132.5)
- Relative luminance: 0.1442
- Nearest named color: Armoury (#6a6b65, Δ 0.324) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/armoury
- Moods: neutral, minimal
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/686b66

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #777a75, #848782, #939692, #a3a5a1, #b2b4b1, #bfc1be, #ced0ce, #dedfdd, #ebebea, #fafafa
- Shades (toward black): #5e605c, #565855, #4c4e4b, #424441, #3a3c39, #30312f, #262725, #1c1d1b, #141514, #0a0a0a

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #69666b
- Analogous: #6a6b66, #666b67
- Triadic: #66686b, #6b6668
- Split-complementary: #67666b, #6b666a
- Tetradic: #666a6b, #69666b, #6b6766

## Colors that go with #686b66

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 that reads cleanly against #686b66 without the hard edge of pure #000. Seen in: Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), Gusto (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gusto-com), Stanley (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/stanley1913-com), Canopy (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#canopy). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Champagne** #f7e7ce [pool] — 6 real palettes, including BrandSweets's brand system and Forest Floor put Champagne beside #686b66. Seen in: BrandSweets (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/brandsweets), Forest Floor (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#forest-floor), Coffee Bar (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#coffee-bar), Woodsmoke (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#woodsmoke). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/champagne
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #686b66: 8 real palettes, including Riverbed and Clay & Linen, as the accent. Seen in: Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Clay & Linen (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#clay-and-linen), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road), Wellness (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#wellness). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #686b66 in 6 real palettes, including Gemstone and Retro Pop, as the accent. Seen in: Gemstone (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#gemstone), Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), Five Guys (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/fiveguys-com), Netflix (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/netflix). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #686b66: 8 real palettes, including Campus and HP's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), HP (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hp-com), 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 #686b66: 4 real palettes, including Newsprint and Fireside, as the lead colour. Seen in: Newsprint (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#newsprint), Fireside (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#fireside), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), Trader Joe's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/traderjoes-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/firebrick
- **Goldenrod** #daa520 [pool] — Goldenrod shows up next to #686b66 in 7 real palettes, including Mid-Century and Harvest, as the accent. Seen in: Mid-Century (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#mid-century), Harvest (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#harvest), Sapphire & Gold (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#sapphire-and-gold), Fireside (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#fireside). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/goldenrod
- **Medium Sea Green** #3cb371 [pool] — Medium Sea Green is paired with #686b66 in 4 real palettes, including Indigo SaaS and Undergrowth, as the accent. Seen in: Indigo SaaS (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/modern#indigo-saas), Undergrowth (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#undergrowth), Console Light (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#console-light), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/mediumseagreen

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

- On white (#ffffff): 5.41:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #565855 (7.19:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.88:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #757873 (4.69:1); AA: background → #ebebeb (4.54:1); AAA: text → #939692 (7.02:1)

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Ink & Paper** (minimal, editorial, clean) — #1b1b1b, #6e6e6e, #1e40af, #fcfbf7 — Two greys and one ink-blue link color: the palette of a well-set book page. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/1b1b1b-6e6e6e-1e40af-fcfbf7 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal

## Fonts for this mood

- neutral: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/neutral
- minimal: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/minimal

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/686b66-a2beb0-c859d4-1f2d2b-eaf1e9?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: "#686b66" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.