Northwind
Also known as: Coastal Mist , Ivalo River , Wave Splash , Melting Point
Northwind brings a cool and clear feel to a palette. This pale cyan suits tech interfaces and water themes. Reach for a pink companion shade to give Northwind maximum contrast. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (16.01:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Reference
Northwind color codes
- HEX
- #CEE5E9
- RGB
- rgb(206, 229, 233)
- RGBA
- rgba(206, 229, 233, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(189, 38%, 86%)
- HSV
- hsv(189, 12%, 91%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(12%, 2%, 0%, 9%)
- LAB
- lab(89.3 -7.3 -4.7)
- OKLCH
- oklch(90.6% 0.025 209.3)
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: lightcyan #E0FFFF · ΔE 6.1
- RAL 7035: Light grey #CBD0CC · ΔE 8.2 · 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 Northwind works
- Web & UI: Too light for text, ideal as a background wash that keeps a page from feeling sterile.
- Interiors: Wall-to-wall safe: it behaves like a white with personality, especially in north-facing rooms.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
- Branding: The safest brand-primary family there is; differentiate with an unexpected accent.
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land: a front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Northwind
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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 Northwind 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 1.31:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 16.01:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Northwind background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Northwind
Northwind with its complement
Soft neighbors of Northwind
Northwind triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Ice Cold #D2EAF1 · ΔE 1.7
- Teardrop #D1EAEA · ΔE 2.4
- Shark #CADCDE · ΔE 2.5
- Breezy #C2DDE6 · ΔE 2.9
- Goddess #D0E1E8 · ΔE 3.0
- Peek-a-Blue #C5E1E1 · ΔE 3.0
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Northwind is closest to Fresco .
FAQ
Northwind FAQs
What color is Northwind?
Northwind is a light cyan with the hex code #CEE5E9. In HSL terms it has a hue of 189°, 38% saturation, and 86% lightness.
What is the hex code for Northwind?
The hex code for Northwind is #CEE5E9. In RGB it's rgb(206, 229, 233), and in CMYK it's cmyk(12%, 2%, 0%, 9%).
What colors go well with Northwind?
Northwind pairs naturally with pink tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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