# #81a9bb

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

## Values

- Hex: `#81a9bb`
- RGB: rgb(129, 169, 187)
- HSL: hsl(199, 30%, 62%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.712 0.051 227.3)
- Relative luminance: 0.3663
- Nearest named color: Pewter (#8ba8b7, Δ 1.242) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/pewter
- Moods: cool, muted
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/81a9bb

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #8eb2c2, #98b9c8, #a5c2cf, #afc9d4, #bdd2db, #cadbe2, #d4e1e8, #e1ebef, #ebf1f4, #f8fafb
- Shades (toward black): #6d9bb0, #598ea6, #507f95, #466e81, #3b5d6d, #304c5a, #253b46, #1d2d35, #121c21, #070b0d

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #bb9381
- Analogous: #81bbb1, #818cbb
- Triadic: #bb81a9, #a9bb81
- Split-complementary: #bb818c, #bbb181
- Tetradic: #b181bb, #bb9381, #8cbb81

## Colors that go with #81a9bb

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 #81a9bb: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Paper & Pine (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#paper-and-pine), Lagoon (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#lagoon), Mercury (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mercury-com), Dusty Blue (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusty-blue). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Dark Salmon** #e9967a [harmony, pool: complementary] — Dark Salmon sits directly opposite #81a9bb on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Polaroid (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#polaroid), Chalkboard (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#chalkboard). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darksalmon
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #81a9bb in 4 real palettes, including Blueprint and NBA's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Blueprint (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#blueprint), NBA (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nba-com), Salesforce (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/salesforce-com), Ahrefs (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/ahrefs-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Canva's brand system and Uber's brand system put Blue beside #81a9bb, as the accent. Seen in: Canva (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/canva-com), Uber (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/uber-com), Lexus (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lexus-com), Warp (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/warp-dev). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Burlywood** #deb887 [pool] — Burlywood is paired with #81a9bb in 4 real palettes, including Polaroid and Chalkboard, as the accent. Seen in: Polaroid (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#polaroid), Chalkboard (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#chalkboard), Coastal (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#coastal), Kiln (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#kiln). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/burlywood
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #81a9bb: 4 real palettes, including Dusk and Riverbed, as the accent. Seen in: Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Clean Beauty (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#clean-beauty), Atelier (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/elegant#atelier). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Cornflower Blue** #6495ed [harmony, pool: analogous] — Cornflower Blue is #81a9bb's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Arctic (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#arctic), Canva (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/canva-com), Blueprint (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#blueprint). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cornflowerblue
- **Dark Olive Green** #556b2f [pool] — Dark Olive Green shows up next to #81a9bb in 4 real palettes, including Oatmeal and Olive Grove, as the lead colour. Seen in: Oatmeal (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/neutral#oatmeal), Olive Grove (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#olive-grove), Warp (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/warp-dev), Forest Floor (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#forest-floor). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkolivegreen

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.52:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #4d7a8f (4.67:1); AA: background → #383838 (4.65:1); AAA: text → #3b5d6d (7.06:1); AAA: background → #171717 (7.11:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.33:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Alpine** (cool, clean, light) — #1f6f8b, #7fa2b6, #e76f51, #f5f8fa, #15222e — Glacier blue with a safety-orange accent: technical outdoor gear, not lifestyle. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/1f6f8b-7fa2b6-e76f51-f5f8fa-15222e — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/81a9bb-9cb3c4-df4e66-1f232d-e9f1f0?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: "#81a9bb" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.