← Shades of blue

≈ Dark Blue

#235D84 is closest to Dark Blue in our library. Dark Blue (#235D84) is a medium, moderately saturated blue with a cool feel. It has a hue angle of 204° and a lightness of 46%. Its moderate saturation keeps it lively without shouting.

#235D84≈ Dark Blue
Conversion

What Dark Blue looks like, feels like and where it works.

Description

Dark Blue (#235D84) is a medium, moderately saturated blue with a cool feel. It has a hue angle of 204° and a lightness of 46%. Its moderate saturation keeps it lively without shouting.

Psychology

Blue is the most widely liked color and the default for trust. It lowers the sense of urgency, so it suits products that ask for confidence: money, health and software. As a mid-toned shade, Dark Blue sits comfortably in the middle: present but not heavy.

Meaning

Blue stands for calm, stability, loyalty and the sky and sea. It is also the color of sadness in English (feeling blue) and, in some cultures, of protection.

Why use this color

Dark Blue is an easy supporting color. It carries white text well, so it works as a button, header or badge background. Pair it with its tints and shades for a complete scale.

Applications
  • Finance, banking and insurance
  • Technology and software
  • Healthcare and corporate identity
  • Links and primary actions in interfaces
History

Egyptian blue, from about 2500 BC, is often called the first synthetic pigment. Ultramarine from lapis lazuli cost as much as gold; Prussian blue (about 1706) made deep blue affordable.

Accessibility

White text on Dark Blue has a contrast ratio of 7.06:1 (AAA); black text has 2.97:1 (fails). WCAG AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text and interface parts. Do not rely on color alone to carry meaning: pair it with text, an icon or a pattern.

ShadesMixed with black: darker and richer.
TintsMixed with white: lighter and softer.
TonesMixed with gray: quieter and less saturated.
HuesThe same lightness and strength, turned around the wheel.
TemperaturesPushed cooler on the left, warmer on the right.
50#F1F8FD100#DFEDF9200#C5DFF3300#9FC7E5400#75A8CF500#548DB6600#3F749B700#235D84800#204661900#153348950#081D2B
Analogous
Complementary
Split complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square

Want to explore these on a wheel? Open the color wheel.

#235D84
Typical visionAs most people see it
#4B5E86
ProtanopiaReduced sensitivity to red
#3E5483
DeuteranopiaReduced sensitivity to green
#00676B
TritanopiaReduced sensitivity to blue
#585858
AchromatopsiaNo color, only light and dark

These are approximations to help you check that meaning never depends on color alone. Real vision varies from person to person.

White textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
7.06:1
AAAAA
Normal textAAAAA
Large textAAAAA
Black textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
2.97:1
AAAAA
Normal textFailFail
Large textFailFail
Open the contrast checker
#235D84 Color — closest to Dark Blue (HEX, RGB, Shades) · Tintly