Calm Waters
Also known as: Placebo Sky , Aphrodite’s Pearls , Bubbles , Cold White
Calm Waters is a pale, lively white that reads as clean and minimal. It earns its place in product photography and minimalist design. Calm Waters plays well with white tones. The harmonies below show which ones. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (19.45:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Reference
Calm Waters color codes
- HEX
- #E7FAFA
- RGB
- rgb(231, 250, 250)
- RGBA
- rgba(231, 250, 250, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(180, 66%, 94%)
- HSV
- hsv(180, 8%, 98%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(8%, 0%, 0%, 2%)
- LAB
- lab(96.9 -6.4 -2.2)
- OKLCH
- oklch(97.1% 0.020 196.8)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
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neutral, leaning cool
subtle cyan undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: azure #F0FFFF · ΔE 1.9
- RAL 9003: Signal white #F4F8F4 · ΔE 5.8 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck. Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Calm Waters works
- Web & UI: A natural surface tint: use it for cards, section backgrounds, or hover states instead of flat white.
- Interiors: A softer alternative to builder's white for walls, trim, or ceilings. It turns warmer under evening light.
- Fashion: A wardrobe neutral: it anchors outfits and pairs with nearly any accent color.
- Branding: Craft and heritage material: coffee, leather goods, and premium packaging live here.
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Calm Waters
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Calm Waters by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 1.08:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 19.45:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Calm Waters background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Calm Waters
Calm Waters with its complement
Soft neighbors of Calm Waters
Calm Waters triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Bubbles #E7FEFF · ΔE 1.4
- Vapour #F0FFFF · ΔE 1.9
- Bone-Chilling #E1F2F0 · ΔE 1.9
- Teardrop #D1EAEA · ΔE 4.2
- Warp Drive #EAF2F1 · ΔE 4.2
- Water #D4F1F9 · ΔE 4.6
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Calm Waters is closest to Pink Swirl .
FAQ
Calm Waters FAQs
What color is Calm Waters?
Calm Waters is a light white with the hex code #E7FAFA. In HSL terms it has a hue of 180°, 66% saturation, and 94% lightness.
What is the hex code for Calm Waters?
The hex code for Calm Waters is #E7FAFA. In RGB it's rgb(231, 250, 250), and in CMYK it's cmyk(8%, 0%, 0%, 2%).
What colors go well with Calm Waters?
Calm Waters pairs naturally with white tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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