# #85a9bc

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

## Values

- Hex: `#85a9bc`
- RGB: rgb(133, 169, 188)
- HSL: hsl(201, 29%, 63%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.715 0.048 231.3)
- Relative luminance: 0.3699
- Nearest named color: Pewter (#8ba8b7, Δ 0.929) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/pewter
- Moods: cool, muted
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/85a9bc

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #92b2c3, #9cb9c9, #a9c2d0, #b3c9d5, #c0d3dd, #cadae2, #d8e3e9, #e1eaef, #eff3f6, #f8fafb
- Shades (toward black): #729bb1, #5e8da6, #517d94, #476c80, #3e5e70, #334e5c, #283d48, #1d2c35, #121c21, #070b0d

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #bc9885
- Analogous: #85bcb4, #858dbc
- Triadic: #bc85a9, #a9bc85
- Split-complementary: #bc858d, #bcb485
- Tetradic: #b485bc, #bc9885, #8dbc85

## Colors that go with #85a9bc

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 #85a9bc: 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), Mercury (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mercury-com), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), 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 #85a9bc 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 #85a9bc 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] — 5 real palettes, including Canva's brand system and Uber's brand system put Blue beside #85a9bc, 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 #85a9bc 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
- **Champagne** #f7e7ce [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Midnight Luxe and Darkroom put Champagne beside #85a9bc, as that palette's text colour. Seen in: Midnight Luxe (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#midnight-luxe), Darkroom (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#darkroom), Forest Floor (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#forest-floor), Bramble (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#bramble). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/champagne
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #85a9bc: 6 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 #85a9bc'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

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.5:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #507a91 (4.63:1); AA: background → #383838 (4.69:1); AAA: text → #3c5b6d (7.22:1); AAA: background → #171717 (7.17:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.4:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Open House** (clean, cool, modern) — #2f6690, #8fa3b8, #e3a72f, #ffffff, #1b2a41 — Steel blue for trust, warm gold for the sold moment — an approachable brokerage that still feels established. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/2f6690-8fa3b8-e3a72f-ffffff-1b2a41 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/85a9bc-9cb1c4-df4e62-1f222d-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: "#85a9bc" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.
