Ultramarine
General Information About Ultramarine
The hexadecimal color #080398, also known as Ultramarine, is a deep, saturated blue. It is composed of 3.14% red, 1.18% green, and 59.61% blue. In the RGB color space, it has values of R:8, G:3, B:152. In the CMYK color space, the approximate values are C:94.08%, M:98.36%, Y:0.00%, K:40.39%. Ultramarine is often associated with qualities like trust, intelligence, and sophistication. It has a rich history, originally derived from the precious stone lapis lazuli. Due to its rarity and cost, it was highly valued, especially in Renaissance painting. Today, synthetic ultramarine is readily available, making it a popular choice across various applications, from art and design to branding and fashion. Its distinctive hue makes it a standout color that can add depth and elegance to any project.
The color #080398, a deep ultramarine, presents significant accessibility challenges. Its low luminance of 2.1 cd/m² results in extremely poor contrast against white text, failing WCAG AA and AAA standards for normal text. For optimal readability, avoid using #080398 as a background for light-colored text. When using this color for text or interactive elements, ensure a very high contrast ratio by pairing it with extremely light colors like white or very pale yellows. Also, consider increasing the font size and weight to improve legibility. Providing alternative text descriptions for images and graphical elements that use #080398 is important for users with visual impairments who may not perceive the color accurately. Meaning should not be conveyed by color alone. Ensure other visual cues, like icons and labels, are present to reinforce meaning. Consider alternative color palettes for projects prioritizing accessibility, choosing colors with higher luminance and better contrast ratios.
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Applications
Luxury Branding and Design
Ultramarine, with its depth and sophistication, is perfect for creating a sense of luxury and exclusivity. In web design, it can be used in headers, footers, and call-to-action buttons to draw attention and convey a sense of authority. In interior design, ultramarine can be used as an accent color in furniture, walls, and artwork to create a dramatic and elegant look. For fashion, ultramarine can be used in evening gowns, suits, and accessories to add a touch of glamour and sophistication. The color is also often used in branding for financial institutions and law firms to create a sense of trust and security. Its richness makes it ideal for high-end product packaging.
Educational Platforms
Ultramarine's calming and intellectual associations make it a great choice for educational platforms and content. Websites and apps can use #080398 for navigation bars, key information sections, and interactive elements. This creates a focused and professional environment, encouraging concentration and learning. In print materials such as textbooks or presentations, using it sparingly for headings and important notes can help to differentiate information. It would be highly advisable to pair this colour with an accessible alternative, so that the contrast is higher.
Artistic Applications
Ultramarine's dramatic impact makes it a perfect fit for artistic creations. It can be used as a dominant colour to create artwork, or as an accent colour to create drama. Its unique depth and sophistication is often leveraged in creative and artistic work. In web-design, ultramarine can be used sparingly to draw attention to key details.