# #686b9c

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

## Values

- Hex: `#686b9c`
- RGB: rgb(104, 107, 156)
- HSL: hsl(237, 21%, 51%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.545 0.076 280.8)
- Relative luminance: 0.1586
- Nearest named color: Bureaucracy (#746c8f, Δ 2.774) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/bureaucracy
- Moods: cool, muted
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/686b9c

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #777aa6, #8486ae, #9395b8, #a2a4c3, #b2b3cd, #bebfd5, #cecedf, #dddee9, #e9eaf1, #f9f9fb
- Shades (toward black): #5d5f8e, #555782, #4b4d72, #404263, #383a56, #2e3047, #242538, #1a1b28, #12131c, #08080c

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #9c9a68
- Analogous: #68859c, #7f689c
- Triadic: #9c686a, #6a9c68
- Split-complementary: #9c7f68, #859c68
- Tetradic: #9c6885, #9c9a68, #689c7f

## Colors that go with #686b9c

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 #686b9c: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), Plaid (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/plaid-com), Bloomberg (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/bloomberg-com), Hermès (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hermes-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #686b9c in 6 real palettes, including Lemon Squeezy's brand system and Beach Hut, as the lead colour. Seen in: Lemon Squeezy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lemonsqueezy-com), Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), Wired (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wired-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Cobalt Blue** #0047ab [pool] — Designers have shipped Cobalt Blue with #686b9c: 7 real palettes, including Fintech Trust and Ink & Paper, as the lead colour. Seen in: Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust), Ink & Paper (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#ink-and-paper), Glacier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#glacier), Hershey's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hersheys-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #686b9c in 14 real palettes, including Marvel's brand system and Retro Pop, as the accent. Seen in: Marvel (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/marvel-com), Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Deep Sky Blue** #00bfff [pool] — Designers have shipped Deep Sky Blue with #686b9c: 5 real palettes, including Astro's brand system and Deep Water, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Astro (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/astro-build), Deep Water (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#deep-water), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com), Telegram (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/telegram-org). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/deepskyblue
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #686b9c: 12 real palettes, including Campus and The New York Times's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), The New York Times (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nytimes-com), Discover (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/discover-com), American Express (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/americanexpress-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Firebrick** #b22222 [pool] — Designers have shipped Firebrick with #686b9c: 5 real palettes, including Honda's brand system and Wendy's's brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Honda (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/honda-com), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), AT&T (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/att-com), Newsprint (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#newsprint). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/firebrick
- **Dark Olive Green** #556b2f [harmony: complementary] — Dark Olive Green sits directly opposite #686b9c on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkolivegreen

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

- On white (#ffffff): 5.03:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #53557f (7.06:1)
- On black (#000000): 4.17:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #7174a2 (4.72:1); AA: background → #f5f5f5 (4.62:1); AAA: text → #9395b8 (7.23:1)

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/686b9c-9f9cc4-df924e-251f2d-e9edf1?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: "#686b9c" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.