# #a5a0ba

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

## Values

- Hex: `#a5a0ba`
- RGB: rgb(165, 160, 186)
- HSL: hsl(252, 16%, 68%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.718 0.038 294.2)
- Relative luminance: 0.3669
- Nearest named color: Machinery (#9999aa, Δ 3.3) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/machinery
- Moods: cool, muted
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/a5a0ba

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #aea9c1, #b6b2c7, #bfbbce, #c7c4d4, #cfcddb, #d8d6e1, #e0dee7, #e9e7ee, #f1f0f4, #f9f9fb
- Shades (toward black): #958fae, #817a9f, #716991, #615a7c, #534d6a, #454059, #353144, #272432, #17151e, #09090c

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #b5baa0
- Analogous: #a0a8ba, #b3a0ba
- Triadic: #baa6a0, #a0baa6
- Split-complementary: #bab3a0, #a8baa0
- Tetradic: #baa0a8, #b5baa0, #a0bab3

## Colors that go with #a5a0ba

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 #a5a0ba: 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
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Canva's brand system and Lexus's brand system put Blue beside #a5a0ba, as the accent. Seen in: Canva (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/canva-com), Lexus (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lexus-com), Spotify (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/spotify), Uber (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/uber-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Burlywood** #deb887 [pool] — Burlywood is paired with #a5a0ba 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 #a5a0ba: 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
- **Dodger Blue** #1e90ff [pool] — Designers have shipped Dodger Blue with #a5a0ba: 4 real palettes, including Studio Grey and Spline's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Studio Grey (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#studio-grey), Spline (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/spline-design), Patreon (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/patreon-com), Opensea (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/opensea-io). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/dodgerblue
- **Hunter Green** #355e3b [pool] — Hunter Green is paired with #a5a0ba in 4 real palettes, including Pine & Birch and Canopy, as the lead colour. Seen in: Pine & Birch (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#pine-and-birch), Canopy (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#canopy), Darkroom (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#darkroom), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/hunter-green
- **Midnight Blue** #191970 [pool] — 7 real palettes, including Open House and First Snow put Midnight Blue beside #a5a0ba, as the text colour against it. Seen in: Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house), First Snow (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#first-snow), Lavender Milk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#lavender-milk), Lavender Haze (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#lavender-haze). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/midnightblue
- **Dark Sea Green** #8fbc8f [harmony: complementary] — Dark Sea Green sits directly opposite #a5a0ba on the wheel — the strongest contrast one hue can give another, so use it small: a button, a link colour, one highlight. — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkseagreen

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.52:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #797198 (4.54:1); AA: background → #383838 (4.66:1); AAA: text → #5a5473 (7.12:1); AAA: background → #171717 (7.12:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.34:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA pass

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/a5a0ba-a99cc4-dfb64e-281f2d-e9ecf1?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: "#a5a0ba" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.