Gulf Blue
General Information about Gulf Blue
The hex color #050c52, also known as Gulf Blue, is a dark shade of blue that belongs to the blue color family. It has a relatively low saturation and brightness, making it appear deep and somewhat muted. In the RGB color model, #050c52 consists of 2% red, 5% green, and 32% blue. In the CMYK color model, which is often used in printing, it comprises 94% cyan, 84% magenta, 0% yellow, and 68% black. Its spectral reflectance is skewed towards the shorter wavelengths, contributing to its bluish appearance. It is perceived as a cool color. Gulf Blue is often associated with seriousness, stability, trust, and intelligence due to its depth. It should be properly used to avoid misuse.
The hex color #050c52, also known as Gulf Blue, presents significant accessibility challenges, particularly in text applications. Its extremely dark hue results in very low contrast against standard light backgrounds like white. This makes it difficult for individuals with visual impairments, including those with low vision or color blindness, to read text rendered in this color. To ensure accessibility, it is crucial to pair #050c52 with very light colors such as #ffffff (white), #f0f0f0 (light gray) or #ffff00 (yellow) to achieve a sufficient contrast ratio as defined by WCAG guidelines. A contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 is recommended for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Using online contrast checkers is advisable. Avoid using #050c52 for crucial visual elements such as links or buttons without proper contrast to prevent usability issues.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
Applications
Corporate Branding
Gulf Blue's deep, sophisticated tone lends itself well to creating a sense of luxury and exclusivity. It is ideal for branding materials in high-end industries like finance, law, or consulting. Its depth evokes trust and stability, making it suitable for logos, website designs, and marketing collateral. The color can be used as a background for websites or print media, or as an accent color to highlight key information. However, care must be taken to ensure readability with light-colored text due to its dark nature.
Fashion Design
Gulf Blue is a popular color choice for evening wear and formal attire. Its rich, dark hue exudes elegance and sophistication, making it a perfect option for dresses, suits, and accessories. When paired with metallic accents like gold or silver, it creates a glamorous look that is well-suited for special occasions. It can also be combined with lighter shades of blue or gray for a more understated and contemporary style. Ensure good lighting to see the garment's texture.
Web Design
In web design, Gulf Blue can serve as a primary or secondary color for creating a professional and trustworthy image. It is often used in the headers, footers, and navigation bars of websites related to technology, business, and education. Using it alongside a contrasting color such as white or yellow can highlight important call-to-action buttons and other interactive elements. In infographics and data visualization, the color can represent important datasets. Good use of white space is also critical.