Color #196B42 Color / Colour Code #196B42
This page shows the hex color code for color #196b42 (#196B42). The colour is a cyan tone with 62% saturation and 26% lightness. Explore its conversions, colour palettes, gradients, accessibility data, and CSS code below.
Color Conversions
Accessibility Contrast
WCAG contrast ratios for #196B42 against common backgrounds.
Complementary Colors
#196B42 paired with its color wheel opposite for maximum contrast.
Analogous Colors
Hues at 120, 150, and 180 degrees for harmonious combinations.
Triadic Palette
Three colors at 150, 270, and 30 degrees.
Color Palettes Using #196B42
Five shades at lightness levels 15% through 85% while keeping hue at 150 and saturation at 62%. Use the darkest shade for text and the lightest for backgrounds to build a cohesive single-hue design system.
Adjacent hues from 150 to 195 degrees create a warm, unified palette. This analogous scheme works for marketing materials, seasonal campaigns, and any design that needs visual warmth without clashing colors.
Combines the base color at hue 150 with its complement at 330 and two adjacent cool tones. This split-complementary approach provides strong visual contrast while remaining more balanced than a pure complementary scheme.
Five evenly spaced hues at 40% saturation and 80% lightness. Pastels are gentle on the eyes and work well for dashboards, onboarding screens, category tags, and any interface where multiple distinct colors are needed without visual aggression.
Shades & Tints of #196B42
Lightness variations at hue 150 and 62% saturation.
CSS Gradients with #196B42
Design Use Cases for #196B42
Vibrant Brand Color
#196B42 has a strong 62% saturation that makes it ideal for brand identity elements. Use it for logos, primary call-to-action buttons, hero section accents, and marketing materials where visual impact matters. This saturation level is eye-catching without being harsh.
Deep Accent & Text Color
#196B42 at 26% lightness is dark enough for readable body text on light backgrounds while retaining its cyan character. Use for headings, emphasized text, or deep accent borders. It provides contrast without the harshness of pure black.
Clarity & Technology
#196B42 is in the cyan spectrum (hue 150). Cyan evokes technology, clarity, and innovation. It works well for tech product interfaces, data visualization accents, loading indicators, and futuristic design themes. Cyan provides a modern alternative to traditional blues.
Gradient Pairing
Create a gradient from #196B42 (hue 150) to its complement at hue 330. For a subtler effect, try pairing with an analogous color at hue 180. Use CSS: background: linear-gradient(135deg, #196b42, #6b1942);
CSS Code for #196B42
Similar Colors
Colors visually similar to #196B42 based on RGB, lightness, and hue variations.
Use This Color in Design Tools
Apply #196B42 across image editing and color design tools.
About Color #196B42 (#196B42)
#196B42 is a cyan color (colour) with RGB channel values of 25 red, 107 green, and 66 blue. The green channel is dominant by a ratio of 4.3:1 over the weakest channel. In HSL terms, the hue sits at 150 degrees with 62% saturation and 26% lightness, placing it in the neutral-to-cool range of the colour spectrum.
The perceived brightness of #196B42 is 78/255 using the ITU-R BT.601 luma formula (0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B). This appears dark to the human eye, so pair it with light text for adequate readability. For print production, the CMYK equivalent is 77% cyan, 0% magenta, 38% yellow, and 58% key (black).
The WCAG contrast ratio of #196B42 against white is 6.52:1 and against black is 3.22:1. This meets the AA requirement (4.5:1) for normal text on white. For AAA compliance, consider darkening to at least 18% lightness.
The complementary colour #6B1942 creates maximum visual tension when paired with #196B42. For more harmonious color combinations, use the analogous colours #196B19 and #196B6B, which sit 30 degrees on either side of the hue wheel. To build a complete design system, start with the monochromatic scale above for consistent shade variations, then add one complementary or triadic accent for interactive elements.
How to Explore Color #196B42
- Enter your color value in HEX format.
- The tool converts it to RGB, HSL, CMYK format in real time.
- Copy the converted value to your clipboard.
What is HEX to RGB, HSL, CMYK color conversion
Converting from HEX to RGB, HSL, CMYK translates a color value between two different color models. Different color models are used in web design (HEX, RGB), print (CMYK), and color theory (HSL, HSV).
Related Tools & Colors
Frequently Asked Questions
- What color / colour is #196B42?
- #196B42 is Color #196B42, a cyan color (colour) with RGB(25, 107, 66), HSL(150, 62%, 26%), and CMYK(77%, 0%, 38%, 58%). Its perceived brightness is 78/255.
- Is #196B42 accessible for text?
- Against white, #196B42 has a contrast ratio of 6.52:1 (passes AA for normal text). Against black, it has 3.22:1 (fails AA). Use the contrast checker tool for custom background pairings.
- What colours pair well with #196B42?
- The complementary colour is #6B1942 (hue 330). For subtle color combinations, use analogous colours #196B19 and #196B6B. The triadic palette adds #42196B and #6B4219 for vibrant variety.
- How do I use #196B42 in CSS?
- Use any format: color: #196b42; or rgb(25, 107, 66); or hsl(150, 62%, 26%). For CSS custom properties: --color-primary: 150 62% 26%; then use it as hsl(var(--color-primary)).
- Is this color / colour explorer free?
- Yes, completely free with no signup required. All colour calculations run in your browser. You can explore any valid hex color code, not just the pre-generated palette.