# #81bdcf

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

## Values

- Hex: `#81bdcf`
- RGB: rgb(129, 189, 207)
- HSL: hsl(194, 45%, 66%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.764 0.067 218.6)
- Relative luminance: 0.4557
- Nearest named color: Crystal Lake (#88b5c4, Δ 2.283) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crystal-lake
- Moods: cool, modern
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/81bdcf

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #8cc3d4, #97c9d8, #a6d0dd, #b1d6e2, #bcdce6, #c8e2ea, #d3e8ee, #e1eff4, #edf5f8, #f8fbfc
- Shades (toward black): #6bb1c7, #55a6be, #4295ae, #3a8298, #316f81, #295c6b, #204955, #16333b, #0e2025, #060d0f

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #cf9381
- Analogous: #81cfbb, #8196cf
- Triadic: #cf81bd, #bdcf81
- Split-complementary: #cf8196, #cfbb81
- Tetradic: #bb81cf, #cf9381, #96cf81

## Colors that go with #81bdcf

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 #81bdcf: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), Coastal (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#coastal), Mercury (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mercury-com), Boeing (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/boeing-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Dark Salmon** #e9967a [harmony, pool: complementary] — Dark Salmon sits directly opposite #81bdcf 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
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #81bdcf: 4 real palettes, including Clean Beauty and Dusk, as the accent. Seen in: Clean Beauty (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#clean-beauty), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #81bdcf in 5 real palettes, including Riot Games's brand system and Tiffany & Co.'s brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Riot Games (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/riotgames-com), Tiffany & Co. (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/tiffany-com), Frost & Ember (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/bold#frost-and-ember), JBL (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/jbl-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #81bdcf: 5 real palettes, including Open House and Coca-Cola's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house), Coca-Cola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/coca-cola-com), UEFA (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/uefa-com), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Dodger Blue** #1e90ff [pool] — Designers have shipped Dodger Blue with #81bdcf: 4 real palettes, including Patreon's brand system and Opensea's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Patreon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/patreon-com), Opensea (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/opensea-io), Figma (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/figma), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/dodgerblue
- **Midnight Blue** #191970 [pool] — 10 real palettes, including First Snow and Open House put Midnight Blue beside #81bdcf, as the text colour against it. Seen in: First Snow (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#first-snow), Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house), Telehealth (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/modern#telehealth), Lavender Milk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#lavender-milk). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/midnightblue
- **Periwinkle** #ccccff [pool] — Periwinkle shows up next to #81bdcf in 4 real palettes, including Lavender Milk and Mistral AI's brand system, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Lavender Milk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#lavender-milk), Mistral AI (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mistral-ai), Calendly (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/calendly-com), Blue Mono (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#blue-mono). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/periwinkle

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.08:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #387e94 (4.59:1); AA: background → #454545 (4.62:1); AAA: text → #2a5f6f (7.08:1); AAA: background → #292929 (7.01:1)
- On black (#000000): 10.11:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass

## Fonts for this mood

- modern: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/modern

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/81bdcf-9cb6c4-df4e72-1f242d-e9f1ef?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: "#81bdcf" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.