Ultramarine
General Information about Ultramarine
The hex color #000B9B, also known as Ultramarine, is a deep and vibrant shade of blue. It belongs to the blue color family and is perceived as cool and calming. In the RGB color model, it consists of 0% red, 4.31% green, and 60.78% blue. In the CMYK color model, it's composed of 100% cyan, 92% magenta, 0% yellow, and 39% black. Ultramarine is often associated with royalty, trust, stability, and intelligence. The color has historical significance, originally derived from the precious stone lapis lazuli. Today, it's widely used in various applications, from digital design to fine arts, thanks to its striking appearance and ability to evoke feelings of serenity and confidence. It is a dark colour, and may need white or bright text to be visible.
The color #000B9B, a deep ultramarine, presents some accessibility challenges, primarily related to contrast. When used as a background color, it necessitates very light text (ideally white or near-white) to ensure sufficient contrast for readability, meeting WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards for users with visual impairments. A contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 is recommended for standard text and 3:1 for large text. Using a color contrast checker is advisable. Furthermore, relying solely on color to convey information is discouraged. Consider incorporating supplementary cues like text labels or icons to ensure inclusivity for color-blind individuals. Thoughtful application of this bold color can create visually striking designs while maintaining accessibility.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
Applications
Website Design
Ultramarine, with its depth and richness, lends itself well to website designs seeking to evoke feelings of trust, security, and sophistication. It can be strategically employed in headers, footers, or as a background for important call-to-action sections to draw the user's eye and establish a sense of brand identity. However, it's best used sparingly as a primary color due to its intensity, and paired with complementary colors or neutral tones to maintain visual balance and prevent overwhelming the user.
Interior Design
In interior design, #000B9B can be utilized as an accent color to bring a pop of boldness and depth to a room. It could be incorporated through statement furniture pieces, wall art, or decorative accessories. When paired with lighter neutrals like beige, cream, or white, it creates a sophisticated and calming atmosphere. Using ultramarine as the primary color for a smaller room could make it feel smaller and more enclosed, so it is better in larger spaces.
Fashion
In fashion, ultramarine can create very interesting visual interest. An ultramarine blue dress could be a statement for the evening, or a casual ultramarine t-shirt could provide some character in your day to day life. Given that the hex color is quite intense, it is not for everybody. But it can be a great way to express yourself.