# #9ca5bf

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

## Values

- Hex: `#9ca5bf`
- RGB: rgb(156, 165, 191)
- HSL: hsl(225, 21%, 68%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.723 0.039 270.3)
- Relative luminance: 0.3774
- Nearest named color: Pewter (#8ba8b7, Δ 2.793) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/pewter
- Moods: cool, muted
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/9ca5bf

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #a6adc5, #afb6cb, #b8bed1, #c1c7d7, #cbcfdd, #d4d8e3, #dde0e9, #e6e8ef, #f0f1f5, #f9f9fb
- Shades (toward black): #8a94b2, #7480a4, #637097, #556082, #49526f, #3c445d, #2e3447, #222734, #14171f, #08090c

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #bfb69c
- Analogous: #9cb6bf, #a59cbf
- Triadic: #bf9ca5, #a5bf9c
- Split-complementary: #bfa59c, #b6bf9c
- Tetradic: #bf9cb6, #bfb69c, #9cbfa5

## Colors that go with #9ca5bf

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 #9ca5bf: 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
- **Deep Sky Blue** #00bfff [harmony, pool: analogous] — Deep Sky Blue is #9ca5bf's neighbour on the wheel, so the two read as one family — use it for hover states, gradients and secondary surfaces. Seen in: Max (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/max-com), Calm (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/calm-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
- **Sand** #c2b280 [harmony, pool: complementary] — Sand sits directly opposite #9ca5bf 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 #9ca5bf, 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 #9ca5bf 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 #9ca5bf: 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), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #9ca5bf: 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 #9ca5bf: 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): 2.46:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #68759c (4.55:1); AA: background → #3b3b3b (4.56:1); AAA: text → #4d5775 (7.15:1); AAA: background → #1a1a1a (7.08:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.55:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass

## Brands using this color

- **Crypto.com** — accent #a0a9be (Δ 1.33) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/crypto-com

## 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/9ca5bf-9ca1c4-df754e-221f2d-e9eff1?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: "#9ca5bf" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.