← Shades of blue

Naval

Naval (#41729F) is a medium, moderately saturated blue with a cool feel. It has a hue angle of 209° and a lightness of 54%. Its moderate saturation keeps it lively without shouting.

#41729FNaval
Conversion

What Naval looks like, feels like and where it works.

Description

Naval (#41729F) is a medium, moderately saturated blue with a cool feel. It has a hue angle of 209° and a lightness of 54%. 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, Naval 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

Naval 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 Naval has a contrast ratio of 5.08:1 (AA); black text has 4.13:1 (fails for body text). 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#F1F8FE100#E0EDFA200#C7DEF5300#A2C5E8400#79A6D1500#598BB9600#41729F700#335B80800#254563900#19324A950#0A1C2C
Analogous
Complementary
Split complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square

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

#41729F
Typical visionAs most people see it
#5F73A1
ProtanopiaReduced sensitivity to red
#526A9E
DeuteranopiaReduced sensitivity to green
#007D82
TritanopiaReduced sensitivity to blue
#6E6E6E
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.
5.08:1
AAAAA
Normal textAAFail
Large textAAAAA
Black textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
4.13:1
AAAAA
Normal textFailFail
Large textAAFail
Open the contrast checker