# #9ca4ab

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

## Values

- Hex: `#9ca4ab`
- RGB: rgb(156, 164, 171)
- HSL: hsl(208, 8%, 64%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.714 0.014 244.3)
- Relative luminance: 0.3656
- Nearest named color: Crown of Ash (#a1a9a9, Δ 1.719) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crown-of-ash
- Moods: muted, minimal
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/9ca4ab

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #a4abb2, #afb5bb, #b7bdc2, #c2c7cb, #cbcfd2, #d3d6d9, #dee1e3, #e6e8ea, #f1f2f3, #f9fafa
- Shades (toward black): #8b949c, #7b858e, #6c767f, #5e676e, #50575e, #42484d, #34383d, #26292c, #171a1c, #090a0b

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #aba39c
- Analogous: #9cabaa, #9c9cab
- Triadic: #ab9ca4, #a4ab9c
- Split-complementary: #ab9c9c, #abaa9c
- Tetradic: #aa9cab, #aba39c, #9cab9c

## Colors that go with #9ca4ab

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 that reads cleanly against #9ca4ab without the hard edge of pure #000. Seen in: Paper & Pine (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#paper-and-pine), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), Mercury (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mercury-com), Dusty Blue (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusty-blue). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Blush Pink** #e8b4b8 [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Estate and Garden Wedding put Blush Pink beside #9ca4ab, as the accent. Seen in: Estate (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#estate), Garden Wedding (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#garden-wedding), Rain Garden (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#rain-garden), Blush (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#blush). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blush-pink
- **Burlywood** #deb887 [pool] — Burlywood is paired with #9ca4ab 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
- **Champagne** #f7e7ce [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Midnight Luxe and Darkroom put Champagne beside #9ca4ab, as that palette's text colour. Seen in: Midnight Luxe (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#midnight-luxe), Darkroom (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#darkroom), Bramble (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#bramble), Forest Floor (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#forest-floor). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/champagne
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #9ca4ab: 8 real palettes, including Riverbed and Dusk, as the accent. Seen in: Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Clean Beauty (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#clean-beauty), Bramble (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#bramble). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Dark Olive Green** #556b2f [pool] — Dark Olive Green shows up next to #9ca4ab in 5 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), Forest Floor (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#forest-floor), Undergrowth (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#undergrowth). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkolivegreen
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #9ca4ab: 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), Guinness (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/guinness-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Hunter Green** #355e3b [pool] — Hunter Green is paired with #9ca4ab in 4 real palettes, including Pine & Birch and Darkroom, as the lead colour. Seen in: Pine & Birch (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#pine-and-birch), Darkroom (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#darkroom), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road), Canopy (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#canopy). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/hunter-green

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.53:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #6e7881 (4.5:1); AA: background → #383838 (4.64:1); AAA: text → #525a60 (7.02:1); AAA: background → #171717 (7.1:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.31:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Graphite** (technical, muted, dark, modern) — #a1a1aa, #71717a, #f59e0b, #18181b, #f4f4f5 — A greyscale system with a single amber — the accent does all the work, so allow one per screen. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/a1a1aa-71717a-f59e0b-18181b-f4f4f5 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical

## Fonts for this mood

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

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/9ca4ab-9cadc4-df4e51-1f212d-e9f1f1?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: "#9ca4ab" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.