Congress Blue
General Information about Congress Blue
The hex color #034F95, also known as Congress Blue, is a dark, muted shade of blue that evokes feelings of trust, authority, and stability. It belongs to the blue color family and has a relatively low saturation and brightness. In the RGB color model, it is composed of 1.18% red, 31% green, and 58.43% blue. In the CMYK color model, it consists of 98% cyan, 47% magenta, 0% yellow, and 42% black. This color is often associated with government, finance, and corporate settings due to its serious and dependable nature. Its hexadecimal value makes it easy to use in digital design and web development, where precise color specifications are essential for maintaining brand consistency and visual appeal. Congress Blue can be a versatile choice for backgrounds, text, or accents in various design projects.
The color #034F95, also known as Congress Blue, presents some accessibility challenges. Its low lightness value results in a low contrast ratio against white text, potentially making it difficult for users with visual impairments to read. According to WCAG guidelines, a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 is recommended for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Using #034F95 as a background for white text may not meet these guidelines. To improve accessibility, consider using a lighter shade of blue or pairing it with a darker text color such as black or very dark gray. Additionally, providing alternative cues, such as icons or labels, can help users with color blindness understand the information being conveyed. Testing the color combination with accessibility tools is essential to ensure that the content is usable by everyone, including those with disabilities. Remember that perceived contrast can vary based on individual screen settings and environmental lighting conditions, so it's crucial to test under various conditions.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
- #2979FF
A slightly lighter shade of blue that provides better contrast against white text.
- #002663
A darker shade of blue, offering a stronger contrast when used as text on a light background.
- #5F9EA0
A desaturated blue alternative that maintains a sense of calmness while being easier on the eyes for extended viewing.
Applications
Government and Finance Websites
Congress Blue can serve as a primary color for financial institutions or government websites, conveying trust, stability, and authority. Its serious tone is fitting for presenting important data and official announcements. It can be effectively used for interactive charts and graphs, call-to-action buttons for sign-ups or applications, and header backgrounds to emphasize key sections of the site. Ensure sufficient contrast with text and other elements to maintain readability and accessibility.
Educational Websites
Congress Blue is a great color to use as a background for a website related to educational contents. Its corporate aesthetic helps users focus on the contents themselves. It can be combined with white text and with brighter accent colors such as yellow or orange to highlight important sections. It is important to provide enough contrast with other elements of the web page for accessibility reasons.
Tech Industry Branding
This shade of blue is commonly used for branding in the tech industry. It conveys a sense of professionalism, security, and innovation. It can be implemented in logos, website designs, and application interfaces to build trust and credibility with users. The color could be used for app icons, user interface elements such as buttons and navigation bars, or as a background color in presentations and marketing materials. Ensuring good contrast ratios is vital for readability, especially on smaller screens.