Pale Whale
Also known as: Millstream, Shrubby Lichen, Early June, Bridgewater Bay
A gentle cyan with a crisp and refreshing character, Pale Whale works beautifully for healthcare apps and modern branding. For contrast, pair it with a orange from its complementary palette below. For accessible text, use it on black or near-black backgrounds (13.37:1, passes WCAG AA) rather than white.
Pale Whale color codes
- HEX
- #B6D3DF
- RGB
- rgb(182, 211, 223)
- RGBA
- rgba(182, 211, 223, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(198, 39%, 79%)
- HSV
- hsv(198, 18%, 87%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(18%, 5%, 0%, 13%)
- LAB
- lab(82.7 -8.1 -9.4)
- OKLCH
- oklch(84.9% 0.035 224.7)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
neutral, leaning cool
subtle blue undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: lightblue#ADD8E6 · ΔE 3.5
- RAL 7035 — Light grey#CBD0CC · ΔE 9.9 · 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 Pale Whale works
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively — dividers, chart series, illustration accents — and let neutrals carry the type.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land — front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- 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.
- Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette — packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Pale Whale
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Pale Whale by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 1.57:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Aa — on black
contrast 13.37:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Best text color on a Pale Whale background: #000000
Palettes featuring Pale Whale
Pale Whale with its complement
Soft neighbors of Pale Whale
Pale Whale triad
Similar colors
- Breezy#C2DDE6 · ΔE 2.7
- Ariel#AED7EA · ΔE 3.2
- Quick-Freeze#BDDBE1 · ΔE 3.4
- Light Blue#ADD8E6 · ΔE 3.5
- Polar Wind#B4DFED · ΔE 4.1
- Lady-In-Waiting#AEDCEC · ΔE 4.3
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Pale Whale is closest to Lip Gloss.
Pale Whale FAQs
What color is Pale Whale?
Pale Whale is a light cyan with the hex code #B6D3DF. In HSL terms it has a hue of 198°, 39% saturation, and 79% lightness.
What is the hex code for Pale Whale?
The hex code for Pale Whale is #B6D3DF. In RGB it's rgb(182, 211, 223), and in CMYK it's cmyk(18%, 5%, 0%, 13%).
What colors go well with Pale Whale?
Pale Whale pairs naturally with orange tones from its complementary harmony, and with red accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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