Pale Whale
Also known as: Millstream , Shrubby Lichen , Early June , Bridgewater Bay
Few cyans feel this gentle. Pale Whale leans cool and crisp and refreshing, which points it toward 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.
Reference
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)
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 blue 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: 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 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.
- 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
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Pale 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 Pale 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 1.57:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 13.37:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Pale Whale background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Pale Whale
Pale Whale with its complement
Soft neighbors of Pale Whale
Pale Whale triad
Explore
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 .
FAQ
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 pink accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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