# #a8a6ab

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

## Values

- Hex: `#a8a6ab`
- RGB: rgb(168, 166, 171)
- HSL: hsl(264, 3%, 66%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.728 0.007 304.2)
- Relative luminance: 0.3854
- Nearest named color: darkgray (#a9a9a9, Δ 0.987) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkgray
- Moods: neutral, minimal
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/a8a6ab

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #afaeb2, #b7b5ba, #c1c0c4, #c9c8cb, #d1d0d2, #d9d8da, #e0dfe1, #eaeaeb, #f2f2f3, #fafafa
- Shades (toward black): #98969c, #89868d, #77747b, #68656c, #59575c, #4a484c, #3a393c, #29282a, #19191a, #0a0a0b

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #a9aba6
- Analogous: #a6a6ab, #aaa6ab
- Triadic: #aba8a6, #a6aba8
- Split-complementary: #abaaa6, #a6aba6
- Tetradic: #aba6a6, #a9aba6, #a6abaa

## Colors that go with #a8a6ab

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 #a8a6ab 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), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), 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 #a8a6ab, 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 #a8a6ab 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 #a8a6ab, 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 #a8a6ab: 7 real palettes, including Riverbed and Clean Beauty, as the accent. Seen in: Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Clean Beauty (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal#clean-beauty), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Bramble (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#bramble). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #a8a6ab: 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 #a8a6ab 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 #a8a6ab, 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): 2.41:1 — AA fail, AA-large fail, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #77747b (4.6:1); AA: background → #3d3d3d (4.5:1); AAA: text → #59575c (7.14:1); AAA: background → #1c1c1c (7.07:1)
- On black (#000000): 8.71:1 — 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
- **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/a8a6ab-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: "#a8a6ab" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.
