High Blue
Also known as: Blue Astro , Waimea Blue , Thalassophile , Cousteau
With its cool undertone, High Blue (#4CA8E0) comes across as calm and trustworthy. Designers reach for it in finance apps and trust-driven interfaces. Reach for a orange companion shade to give High Blue maximum contrast. Accessibility-wise, it needs a dark backdrop: 7.98:1 on black clears AA.
Reference
High Blue color codes
- HEX
- #4CA8E0
- RGB
- rgb(76, 168, 224)
- RGBA
- rgba(76, 168, 224, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(203, 70%, 59%)
- HSV
- hsv(203, 66%, 88%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(66%, 25%, 0%, 12%)
- LAB
- lab(65.1 -15.1 -37.1)
- OKLCH
- oklch(70.0% 0.120 238.6)
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: deepskyblue #00BFFF · ΔE 7.2
- RAL 5024: Pastel blue #6A93B0 · ΔE 9.0 · 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 High Blue 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 High Blue
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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 High Blue 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 2.63:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 7.98:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a High Blue background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring High Blue
High Blue with its complement
Soft neighbors of High Blue
High Blue triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Thalassophile #44AADD · ΔE 2.1
- Cousteau #55A9D6 · ΔE 2.4
- Sub-Zero #57A1CE · ΔE 2.9
- Cerulean #55AAEE · ΔE 3.1
- Windjammer #62A5DF · ΔE 3.6
- Blue Burst #309CD0 · ΔE 4.5
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of High Blue is closest to Cognac .
FAQ
High Blue FAQs
What color is High Blue?
High Blue is a medium blue with the hex code #4CA8E0. In HSL terms it has a hue of 203°, 70% saturation, and 59% lightness.
What is the hex code for High Blue?
The hex code for High Blue is #4CA8E0. In RGB it's rgb(76, 168, 224), and in CMYK it's cmyk(66%, 25%, 0%, 12%).
What colors go well with High Blue?
High Blue 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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