# #a8a09f

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

## Values

- Hex: `#a8a09f`
- RGB: rgb(168, 160, 159)
- HSL: hsl(7, 5%, 64%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.712 0.009 26.1)
- Relative luminance: 0.3597
- Nearest named color: Elephant in the Room (#a8a9a8, Δ 2.39) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/elephant-in-the-room
- Moods: neutral, minimal
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/a8a09f

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #afa8a7, #b9b2b1, #c0bab9, #cac5c4, #d1cdcc, #d8d5d4, #e2dfdf, #e9e7e7, #f3f2f2, #fafafa
- Shades (toward black): #99908f, #8b807e, #7b716f, #6b6261, #5b5352, #4b4544, #3b3635, #2b2727, #1b1918, #0b0a0a

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #9fa7a8
- Analogous: #a89fa2, #a8a49f
- Triadic: #9fa8a0, #a09fa8
- Split-complementary: #9fa8a4, #9fa2a8
- Tetradic: #a2a89f, #9fa7a8, #a49fa8

## Colors that go with #a8a09f

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 #a8a09f without the hard edge of pure #000. Seen in: Paper & Pine (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#paper-and-pine), Canopy (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#canopy), Dusty Blue (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusty-blue), Puma (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/puma-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Blush Pink** #e8b4b8 [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Estate and Garden Wedding put Blush Pink beside #a8a09f, as the accent. Seen in: Estate (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#estate), Garden Wedding (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#garden-wedding), Blush (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/light#blush), Rain Garden (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#rain-garden). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blush-pink
- **Burlywood** #deb887 [pool] — Burlywood is paired with #a8a09f 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), Coffee Bar (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#coffee-bar). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/burlywood
- **Champagne** #f7e7ce [pool] — 5 real palettes, including Darkroom and Bramble put Champagne beside #a8a09f, as the surface under it. Seen in: Darkroom (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#darkroom), Bramble (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#bramble), Midnight Luxe (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#midnight-luxe), Forest Floor (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#forest-floor). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/champagne
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #a8a09f: 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), Bakery (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#bakery). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Dark Olive Green** #556b2f [pool] — Dark Olive Green shows up next to #a8a09f 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), Clay & Linen (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#clay-and-linen). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkolivegreen
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #a8a09f: 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), Guinness (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/guinness-com), Coca-Cola (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/coca-cola-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Hunter Green** #355e3b [pool] — Hunter Green is paired with #a8a09f in 5 real palettes, including Darkroom and Pine & Birch, as the accent. Seen in: Darkroom (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#darkroom), Pine & Birch (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#pine-and-birch), Canopy (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#canopy), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/hunter-green

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.56:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #7e7372 (4.58:1); AA: background → #383838 (4.58:1); AAA: text → #5e5655 (7.15:1); AAA: background → #141414 (7.19:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.19:1 — 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
- **Riverbed** (earthy, muted, cool) — #5f7a6b, #a89f91, #b7742f, #f4f3ef, #22281f — Wet-stone green and pebble grey with a copper accent — an earth palette that leans cool, for outdoor and wellness. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/5f7a6b-a89f91-b7742f-f4f3ef-22281f — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/earthy
- **Stone** (neutral, cool, minimal, clean) — #44403c, #a8a29e, #d6d3d1, #fafaf9, #1c1917 — Stone greys with a faint warmth — Tailwind's stone scale used as a whole palette: interfaces that want to disappear. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/44403c-a8a29e-d6d3d1-fafaf9-1c1917 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/neutral

## Fonts for this mood

- neutral: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/neutral
- 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/a8a09f-a2beb0-c859d4-1f2d2b-eaf1e9?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: "#a8a09f" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.