Gulf Blue
General Information about Gulf Blue
The hex color #050652, commonly referred to as Gulf Blue, is a dark shade of blue with a rich and deep tone. It is composed of 2% red, 2.4% green, and 32.2% blue. In the RGB color space, it represents a low intensity of red and green, with a significantly higher intensity of blue, resulting in its distinctive dark blue appearance. This color is often associated with sophistication, depth, and a sense of calmness. In color theory, Gulf Blue can evoke feelings of trust, stability, and intelligence, making it a popular choice for various applications where a sense of reliability is desired. It belongs to the blue color family, which is generally perceived as peaceful and serene.
The hex color #050652, also known as Gulf Blue, presents significant accessibility challenges due to its very dark hue. When used as a background color, it requires extremely light text (white or near-white) to ensure sufficient contrast for readability. According to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), the contrast ratio between the text and background should be at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text to meet AA compliance. This color may struggle to meet these ratios with many common text colors, potentially causing visual strain for users, especially those with visual impairments. Therefore, careful consideration must be given to text color choices, and it's advisable to use contrast checking tools to verify compliance. Also avoid using this color for small user interface elements where discernibility is critical.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
A slightly lighter blue that maintains a sense of depth while improving readability against white text.
A more vibrant blue that offers better contrast and visual appeal in digital interfaces.
A lighter shade that still evokes a sense of depth, but offers improved accessibility, readability and is generally accepted by online users.
Applications
Website Design
Gulf Blue can be used as a primary color for website headers and navigation menus, providing a sophisticated and professional aesthetic. Its depth creates a sense of trustworthiness, making it suitable for businesses in finance or technology. Ensure sufficient contrast with text elements to maintain readability, especially for important links and call-to-action buttons. Consider using a lighter shade of blue or white for text to achieve optimal contrast and accessibility.
Fashion and Interior Design
In fashion design, Gulf Blue can be used for evening wear or formal attire, offering a touch of elegance and mystery. It pairs well with metallic accents like silver or gold. For interior design, this hue is suitable for accent walls in living rooms or bedrooms, creating a calming and sophisticated atmosphere. Use it sparingly to avoid overwhelming the space, and balance it with lighter colors and natural textures.
UI Design and Corporate Design
This color can be used for designing the graphical user interface of embedded software, for example, car dashboards. The colour supports a serious, trustworthy and sophisticated look and feel and provides the software with a premium note. It can be also be used as a corporate design colour for companies that want to present themselves as serious and trustworthy.