Fail Whale
Also known as: Honolulu , Pacific Ocean , Mediterranean Charm , Sail
As a soft take on blue, Fail Whale carries steady and dependable energy that suits trust-driven interfaces and corporate branding. Its complement lands in orange territory, which makes for striking two-color pairings. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (12.23:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Reference
Fail Whale color codes
- HEX
- #99CCEE
- RGB
- rgb(153, 204, 238)
- RGBA
- rgba(153, 204, 238, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(204, 71%, 77%)
- HSV
- hsv(204, 36%, 93%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(36%, 14%, 0%, 7%)
- LAB
- lab(79.4 -11.0 -22.5)
- OKLCH
- oklch(82.1% 0.072 238.0)
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: lightskyblue #87CEFA · ΔE 3.1
- RAL 6034: Pastel turquoise #7FB0B2 · ΔE 14.7 · 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 Fail Whale works
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Fail Whale
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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 Fail Whale 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 1.72:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 12.23:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Fail Whale background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Fail Whale
Fail Whale with its complement
Soft neighbors of Fail Whale
Fail Whale triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Fish Pond #86C8ED · ΔE 2.8
- Clear Sky #8ECCFE · ΔE 3.5
- Below Zero #87CDED · ΔE 3.8
- Droplet #AADDFF · ΔE 4.1
- Metal Gear #A2C3DB · ΔE 4.2
- Baby Blue #A2CFFE · ΔE 4.4
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Fail Whale is closest to Peachy-Kini .
FAQ
Fail Whale FAQs
What color is Fail Whale?
Fail Whale is a light blue with the hex code #99CCEE. In HSL terms it has a hue of 204°, 71% saturation, and 77% lightness.
What is the hex code for Fail Whale?
The hex code for Fail Whale is #99CCEE. In RGB it's rgb(153, 204, 238), and in CMYK it's cmyk(36%, 14%, 0%, 7%).
What colors go well with Fail Whale?
Fail Whale 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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