Dolphin
Also known as: Dreaming Blue , Winter Chime , Ocean Horizon , Blue Charm
Dolphin holds a soft position in the cyan range and reads as cool and clear. You'll see it used for modern branding and tech interfaces. Match it with orange accents when the design calls for energy over calm. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (10.92:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Reference
Dolphin color codes
- HEX
- #86C4DA
- RGB
- rgb(134, 196, 218)
- RGBA
- rgba(134, 196, 218, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(196, 53%, 69%)
- HSV
- hsv(196, 39%, 85%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(39%, 10%, 0%, 15%)
- LAB
- lab(75.5 -16.5 -17.7)
- OKLCH
- oklch(78.6% 0.071 222.2)
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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cool
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: skyblue #87CEEB · ΔE 3.2
- RAL 6034: Pastel turquoise #7FB0B2 · ΔE 9.3 · 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 Dolphin works
- Web & UI: Best as a button fill, badge, or accent. Pair it with white text only at large sizes, and check contrast.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece, a top, scarf, or shoes, against neutral basics.
- Branding: Sits in the trust register: a natural primary for finance, health, and B2B brands.
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Dolphin
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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 Dolphin 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 1.92:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 10.92:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Dolphin background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Dolphin
Dolphin with its complement
Soft neighbors of Dolphin
Dolphin triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Sky Fall #89C6DF · ΔE 1.3
- Juvie #8ABBD0 · ΔE 3.0
- Below Zero #87CDED · ΔE 3.7
- Aquatic #99C1CC · ΔE 4.6
- Fish Pond #86C8ED · ΔE 4.9
- Skydive #60BFD3 · ΔE 5.3
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Dolphin is closest to Apricotta .
FAQ
Dolphin FAQs
What color is Dolphin?
Dolphin is a medium cyan with the hex code #86C4DA. In HSL terms it has a hue of 196°, 53% saturation, and 69% lightness.
What is the hex code for Dolphin?
The hex code for Dolphin is #86C4DA. In RGB it's rgb(134, 196, 218), and in CMYK it's cmyk(39%, 10%, 0%, 15%).
What colors go well with Dolphin?
Dolphin pairs naturally with orange tones from its complementary harmony, and with pink accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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