Ultramarine
About Ultramarine
The hex color #150197, also known as Ultramarine, is a deep, saturated shade of blue. It is located in the blue-violet portion of the color spectrum. Ultramarine, historically derived from the precious stone lapis lazuli, has been prized for centuries as a pigment. In the RGB color model, #150197 is composed of 8.24% red, 0.39% green, and 58.82% blue. In the CMYK color model, it consists of 86% cyan, 99% magenta, 0% yellow, and 41% black. This color is often associated with depth, intelligence, and stability, making it a popular choice in various design applications. Due to its low luminance, it should be used carefully with contrasting colors to ensure accessibility and readability. The color evokes a sense of royalty and spirituality, reminiscent of deep oceans and twilight skies.
The color #150197, a deep ultramarine, presents significant accessibility challenges. Its very low luminance value of 0.004 makes it difficult to read against similarly dark backgrounds. According to WCAG guidelines, a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 is recommended for standard text and 3:1 for large text against its background. This color will likely fail to meet these ratios with most shades of gray or other colors, requiring very light colors for acceptable readability. When using #150197, ensure text is large and bold, or consider using it sparingly for decorative elements where readability is not critical. A thorough contrast check with foreground elements is essential. When designing interactive elements using this color, provide a clear visual focus indicator to meet accessibility standards for keyboard and screen reader users. To improve accessibility, consider lightening the color, or using a lighter shade as a background instead.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
- #333399
A slightly lighter shade of blue, #333399 offers improved readability while retaining a similar aesthetic.
- #add8e6
For better contrast, a light blue such as #ADD8E6 can be paired with darker accents to create a visually appealing and accessible design.
- #2929ab
If you want a darker shade but with a little more brightness, #2929AB can be a good choice.
Applications
Elegant Accents
In web design, #150197 can serve as an accent color for headers or buttons, especially on sites aiming for a sophisticated or nighttime aesthetic. However, caution is advised regarding text readability. In fashion, this color can be used for evening wear or accessories, evoking elegance and depth. When used in interior design, ultramarine can act as an accent wall color in living rooms or studies to create a sense of calm and intelligence, while smaller uses can create focus and promote creativity. In digital art, this blue is useful for creating a night scene or giving depth to shadows and can be used to evoke mystery and sophistication.
Corporate Branding
In branding, ultramarine can convey trust and security, suitable for financial institutions or tech companies. Use it for logos and website backgrounds to establish credibility. In graphic design, utilize this color for backgrounds, borders, or text to add depth and interest. In data visualization, distinguish different categories or highlight key findings in charts and graphs using ultramarine. Ensure sufficient contrast when displaying text or data over the color.
Website Base Color
Ultramarine is a perfect choice to be a base color for a website. The deep, rich tone conveys a sense of reliability and professionalism, making the website more attractive. In addition, this color creates a clean and uncluttered layout, which facilitates navigation. It's very important to be careful with the combination of colors to generate enough contrast.