Catalina Blue
About Catalina Blue
The color #003580, known as Catalina Blue, is a deep, saturated blue reminiscent of the ocean's depths. In the RGB color model, it consists of 0% red, 21.57% green, and 50.2% blue. This color is part of the blue color family and evokes feelings of calmness, stability, and authority. It is often associated with trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven. In color psychology, blue is known to slow the metabolism and produce a calming effect. Because of these associations, Catalina Blue is used in corporate branding and communications to project reliability and professionalism. Its darkness can also convey a sense of seriousness and importance, making it suitable for formal designs and applications. The name Catalina Blue is inspired by the deep blue waters surrounding Catalina Island.
The hex color #003580, also known as Catalina Blue, presents both opportunities and challenges regarding accessibility. Its dark hue provides a strong contrast when used with light text or interface elements, fulfilling WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) requirements for color contrast ratios. This is crucial for users with visual impairments, ensuring readability and ease of navigation. However, using this color for text on a dark background would create insufficient contrast, making it difficult for many users to read. When implementing this color, it is vital to test contrast ratios with different foreground colors to ensure compliance with accessibility standards. Additionally, relying solely on color to convey information should be avoided. Providing alternative cues like text labels or icons ensures that users who are colorblind or have other visual impairments can still understand the content. Remember that a thoughtful approach to color choice significantly impacts the user experience for individuals with disabilities.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
- #0047ab
A slightly lighter shade of blue that maintains a professional look while offering a touch more brightness.
- #002147
A darker shade for situations requiring a more subdued and serious tone, useful for backgrounds or elements needing less emphasis.
- #008080
A deep teal color which provides more contrast to bright colors like white and yellow.
Applications
Corporate Website Background
Catalina Blue's depth makes it suitable for backgrounds in websites or applications needing a sense of sophistication and trustworthiness. It can create a calming and reliable atmosphere, ideal for corporate sites, financial dashboards, or educational platforms. Using it as the primary background color paired with lighter text (white or light gray) will provide good contrast. It is also effective in data visualizations to represent significant data points or categories, making them stand out from other information. In UI design, this color can define primary action buttons to guide users through the intended flow. Its versatility makes it a great color.
Formal Wear Design
In the fashion industry, Catalina Blue can be used in the design of evening wear or formal attire to convey elegance and class. Think of a satin gown or a velvet blazer in this hue. Accessorizing with silver or gold jewelry would enhance the color's richness. This color works well as a base for printed textiles too. The depth of color enhances printed patterns. Its inherent sophistication makes it appropriate for formal events and high-end fashion lines.
Interior Design Accent Color
Catalina Blue is an excellent choice for creating serene and sophisticated interior spaces. It works well in bedrooms or studies, providing a calm and focused environment. This color pairs well with neutral tones like beige, cream, or light gray, as well as natural materials such as wood or stone. You could incorporate it as an accent wall color or in textiles like curtains, cushions, or rugs. Using metallic accents like brass or copper can amplify the color's richness and create a luxurious feel.