Color #2CA5CB Color / Colour Code #2CA5CB
This page shows the hex color code for color #2ca5cb (#2CA5CB). The colour is a cyan tone with 64% saturation and 48% lightness. Explore its conversions, colour palettes, gradients, accessibility data, and CSS code below.
Color Conversions
Accessibility Contrast
WCAG contrast ratios for #2CA5CB against common backgrounds.
Complementary Colors
#2CA5CB paired with its color wheel opposite for maximum contrast.
Analogous Colors
Hues at 164, 194, and 224 degrees for harmonious combinations.
Triadic Palette
Three colors at 194, 314, and 74 degrees.
Color Palettes Using #2CA5CB
Five shades at lightness levels 15% through 85% while keeping hue at 194 and saturation at 64%. Use the darkest shade for text and the lightest for backgrounds to build a cohesive single-hue design system.
Adjacent hues from 194 to 239 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 194 with its complement at 14 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 #2CA5CB
Lightness variations at hue 194 and 64% saturation.
CSS Gradients with #2CA5CB
Design Use Cases for #2CA5CB
Vibrant Brand Color
#2CA5CB has a strong 64% 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.
Primary Interface Color
At 48% lightness, #2CA5CB is in the mid-range, making it ideal for interactive elements like buttons, links, and selected states. This lightness level ensures good contrast against both light and dark adjacent elements in most layouts.
Clarity & Technology
#2CA5CB is in the cyan spectrum (hue 194). 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 #2CA5CB (hue 194) to its complement at hue 14. For a subtler effect, try pairing with an analogous color at hue 224. Use CSS: background: linear-gradient(135deg, #2ca5cb, #c9512c);
CSS Code for #2CA5CB
Similar Colors
Colors visually similar to #2CA5CB based on RGB, lightness, and hue variations.
Use This Color in Design Tools
Apply #2CA5CB across image editing and color design tools.
About Color #2CA5CB (#2CA5CB)
#2CA5CB is a cyan color (colour) with RGB channel values of 44 red, 165 green, and 203 blue. The blue channel is dominant by a ratio of 4.6:1 over the weakest channel. In HSL terms, the hue sits at 194 degrees with 64% saturation and 48% lightness, placing it in the cool range of the colour spectrum.
The perceived brightness of #2CA5CB is 133/255 using the ITU-R BT.601 luma formula (0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B). This is a medium-brightness color that can work with either dark or light text depending on font weight and size. For print production, the CMYK equivalent is 78% cyan, 19% magenta, 0% yellow, and 20% key (black).
The WCAG contrast ratio of #2CA5CB against white is 2.86:1 and against black is 7.35:1. This does not meet AA requirements on white. Use it on dark backgrounds where it achieves 7.35:1, or use it exclusively for decorative purposes.
The complementary colour #C9512C creates maximum visual tension when paired with #2CA5CB. For more harmonious color combinations, use the analogous colours #2CC99F and #2C56C9, 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 #2CA5CB
- 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 #2CA5CB?
- #2CA5CB is Color #2CA5CB, a cyan color (colour) with RGB(44, 165, 203), HSL(194, 64%, 48%), and CMYK(78%, 19%, 0%, 20%). Its perceived brightness is 133/255.
- Is #2CA5CB accessible for text?
- Against white, #2CA5CB has a contrast ratio of 2.86:1 (fails AA for normal text). Against black, it has 7.35:1 (passes AA). Use the contrast checker tool for custom background pairings.
- What colours pair well with #2CA5CB?
- The complementary colour is #C9512C (hue 14). For subtle color combinations, use analogous colours #2CC99F and #2C56C9. The triadic palette adds #C92CA4 and #A4C92C for vibrant variety.
- How do I use #2CA5CB in CSS?
- Use any format: color: #2ca5cb; or rgb(44, 165, 203); or hsl(194, 64%, 48%). For CSS custom properties: --color-primary: 194 64% 48%; 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.