# #686d78

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

## Values

- Hex: `#686d78`
- RGB: rgb(104, 109, 120)
- HSL: hsl(221, 7%, 44%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.534 0.018 266.2)
- Relative luminance: 0.1524
- Nearest named color: Ashen Whisper (#646b7a, Δ 0.989) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/ashen-whisper
- Moods: neutral, minimal
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/686d78

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #747a86, #848994, #9296a0, #a2a6ae, #b0b3ba, #bec0c6, #ced0d4, #dcdde0, #ecedee, #fafafa
- Shades (toward black): #5f636d, #555962, #4c5057, #42464c, #393c41, #2f3237, #26282c, #1c1e21, #131416, #090a0b

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #787368
- Analogous: #687578, #6b6878
- Triadic: #78686d, #6d7868
- Split-complementary: #786b68, #757868
- Tetradic: #786875, #787368, #68786b

## Colors that go with #686d78

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 #686d78 without the hard edge of pure #000. Seen in: Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), Gusto (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gusto-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 #686d78 in 4 real palettes, including Beach Hut and Lemon Squeezy's brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Beach Hut (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#beach-hut), Lemon Squeezy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lemonsqueezy-com), McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), Wired (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wired-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Champagne** #f7e7ce [pool] — 7 real palettes, including BrandSweets's brand system and Coffee Bar put Champagne beside #686d78. Seen in: BrandSweets (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/brandsweets), Coffee Bar (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#coffee-bar), Forest Floor (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#forest-floor), Woodsmoke (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#woodsmoke). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/champagne
- **Cobalt Blue** #0047ab [pool] — Designers have shipped Cobalt Blue with #686d78: 4 real palettes, including Ink & Paper and Fintech Trust, as the accent. Seen in: Ink & Paper (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#ink-and-paper), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust), Intel (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/intel-com), Glacier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#glacier). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #686d78: 7 real palettes, including Riverbed and Dusk, as the accent. Seen in: Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Clay & Linen (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#clay-and-linen), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #686d78 in 8 real palettes, including Retro Pop and Gemstone, as the lead colour. Seen in: Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), Gemstone (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#gemstone), Redfin (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/redfin-com), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #686d78: 11 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), HP (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hp-com), Discover (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/discover-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Firebrick** #b22222 [pool] — Designers have shipped Firebrick with #686d78: 5 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), Fireside (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#fireside). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/firebrick

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

- On white (#ffffff): 5.19:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #555962 (7.02:1)
- On black (#000000): 4.05:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #6f7580 (4.53:1); AA: background → #f0f0f0 (4.55:1); AAA: text → #9296a0 (7.09:1)

## 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
- **Graphite** (technical, muted, dark, modern) — #a1a1aa, #71717a, #f59e0b, #18181b, #f4f4f5 — A greyscale system with a single amber — the accent does all the work, so allow one per screen. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/a1a1aa-71717a-f59e0b-18181b-f4f4f5 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical
- **Indigo SaaS** (modern, cool, clean) — #4f46e5, #6b7280, #10b981, #ffffff, #111827 — The dependable indigo-and-emerald B2B pairing: indigo for primary actions, emerald reserved for success states. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/4f46e5-6b7280-10b981-ffffff-111827 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/modern

## 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/686d78-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: "#686d78" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.