# #a8a4ad

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

## Values

- Hex: `#a8a4ad`
- RGB: rgb(168, 164, 173)
- HSL: hsl(267, 5%, 66%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.725 0.014 306)
- Relative luminance: 0.3789
- Nearest named color: darkgray (#a9a9a9, Δ 1.686) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkgray
- Moods: neutral, minimal
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/a8a4ad

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #b0acb4, #b7b4bb, #c1bfc5, #c9c7cc, #d1cfd3, #d9d7db, #e0dfe2, #eaeaec, #f2f2f3, #fafafa
- Shades (toward black): #98949e, #898490, #77727e, #68636e, #59555e, #4a464e, #3a383e, #29272b, #19181b, #0a0a0b

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #a9ada4
- Analogous: #a4a4ad, #aca4ad
- Triadic: #ada8a4, #a4ada8
- Split-complementary: #adaca4, #a4ada4
- Tetradic: #ada4a4, #a9ada4, #a4adac

## Colors that go with #a8a4ad

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 #a8a4ad 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), Mercury (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mercury-com), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Blush Pink** #e8b4b8 [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Estate and Garden Wedding put Blush Pink beside #a8a4ad, 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 #a8a4ad 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 #a8a4ad, 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 #a8a4ad: 7 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
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #a8a4ad: 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 #a8a4ad 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), Canopy (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#canopy), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/hunter-green
- **Midnight Blue** #191970 [pool] — 4 real palettes, including Open House and First Snow put Midnight Blue beside #a8a4ad, 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), Casper Sleep (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/casper-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/midnightblue

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

- On white (#ffffff): 2.45:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #7a7481 (4.52:1); AA: background → #3b3b3b (4.58:1); AAA: text → #5b5760 (7.05:1); AAA: background → #1a1a1a (7.11:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.58:1 — 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

- 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/a8a4ad-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: "#a8a4ad" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.
