# #9ca1ba

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

## Values

- Hex: `#9ca1ba`
- RGB: rgb(156, 161, 186)
- HSL: hsl(230, 18%, 67%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.713 0.037 276.5)
- Relative luminance: 0.361
- Nearest named color: Machinery (#9999aa, Δ 2.798) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/machinery
- Moods: cool, muted
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/9ca1ba

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #a5a9c0, #aeb2c7, #b7bacd, #c0c3d3, #cccedb, #d5d7e2, #dee0e8, #e7e8ee, #f0f1f5, #f9f9fb
- Shades (toward black): #8a90ad, #757c9f, #646c90, #585e7e, #4b516c, #3d4157, #303445, #242633, #15161e, #08090c

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #bab59c
- Analogous: #9cb0ba, #a69cba
- Triadic: #ba9ca1, #a1ba9c
- Split-complementary: #baa69c, #b0ba9c
- Tetradic: #ba9cb0, #bab59c, #9cbaa6

## Colors that go with #9ca1ba

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 #9ca1ba: 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), Dusty Blue (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusty-blue), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Sand** #c2b280 [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sand sits directly opposite #9ca1ba on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. Seen in: Garden Wedding (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#garden-wedding). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/sand
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Canva's brand system and Spotify's brand system put Blue beside #9ca1ba, as the accent. Seen in: Canva (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/canva-com), Spotify (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/spotify), Lexus (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lexus-com), Uber (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/uber-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Burlywood** #deb887 [pool] — Burlywood is paired with #9ca1ba 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), Kiln (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#kiln), Coastal (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#coastal). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/burlywood
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #9ca1ba: 7 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
- **Deep Sky Blue** #00bfff [pool] — Designers have shipped Deep Sky Blue with #9ca1ba: 4 real palettes, including Calm's brand system and Max's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Calm (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/calm-com), Max (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/max-com), Snowflake AI Data Cloud (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/snowflake-com), Remix (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/remix-run). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/deepskyblue
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #9ca1ba: 4 real palettes, including Open House and Dusk, as the lead colour. Seen in: Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Coca-Cola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/coca-cola-com), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Dodger Blue** #1e90ff [pool] — Designers have shipped Dodger Blue with #9ca1ba: 5 real palettes, including Studio Grey and Patreon's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Studio Grey (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#studio-grey), Patreon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/patreon-com), Spline (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/spline-design), Opensea (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/opensea-io). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/dodgerblue

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.55:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #6c7399 (4.62:1); AA: background → #383838 (4.59:1); AAA: text → #4f5572 (7.3:1); AAA: background → #171717 (7.02:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.22:1 — 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/9ca1ba-9c9ec4-df814e-231f2d-e9eef1?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: "#9ca1ba" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.