# #9ca3c4

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

## Values

- Hex: `#9ca3c4`
- RGB: rgb(156, 163, 196)
- HSL: hsl(230, 25%, 69%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.721 0.049 275.7)
- Relative luminance: 0.3725
- Nearest named color: Imperial Lilac (#a99fcf, Δ 2.879) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/imperial-lilac
- Moods: cool, muted
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/9ca3c4

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #a6acc9, #afb5cf, #b9bed5, #c2c6db, #cccfe0, #d2d5e4, #dcdeea, #e6e7f0, #eff0f5, #f9f9fb
- Shades (toward black): #8991b8, #737cab, #606a9f, #525b89, #474f76, #394060, #2e334d, #212436, #151723, #08090d

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #c4bd9c
- Analogous: #9cb7c4, #a99cc4
- Triadic: #c49ca3, #a3c49c
- Split-complementary: #c4a99c, #b7c49c
- Tetradic: #c49cb7, #c4bd9c, #9cc4a9

## Colors that go with #9ca3c4

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 #9ca3c4: softer than #000 and cool enough to feel like part of the same palette. Seen in: Mercury (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mercury-com), Paper & Pine (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#paper-and-pine), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), Dusty Blue (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusty-blue). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Sand** #c2b280 [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sand sits directly opposite #9ca3c4 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 #9ca3c4, as the accent. Seen in: Canva (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/canva-com), Spotify (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/spotify), Uber (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/uber-com), Lexus (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lexus-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Burlywood** #deb887 [pool] — Burlywood is paired with #9ca3c4 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 #9ca3c4: 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
- **Deep Sky Blue** #00bfff [pool] — Designers have shipped Deep Sky Blue with #9ca3c4: 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 #9ca3c4: 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 #9ca3c4: 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), Opensea (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/opensea-io), Venmo (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/venmo-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/dodgerblue

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.49:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #6973a5 (4.57:1); AA: background → #3b3b3b (4.51:1); AAA: text → #4d5580 (7.18:1); AAA: background → #1a1a1a (7:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.45:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass

## Curated palettes containing it

- **First Snow** (winter, cool, light, minimal) — #2b4c7e, #8fa8c8, #c9d6e3, #fbfcfe, #14213d — Ice blue on snow-white with a deep navy — the quietest winter palette; everything is a tint of one cold hue. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/2b4c7e-8fa8c8-c9d6e3-fbfcfe-14213d — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/winter

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/9ca3c4-9c9ec4-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: "#9ca3c4" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.
