Cerulean Blue
General Information about Cerulean Blue
Cerulean Blue, represented by the hexadecimal color code #194ACD, is a captivating shade of blue situated between cyan and azure on the color spectrum. It gets its name from the Latin word "caeruleus," meaning dark blue, or blue-green, and is often associated with the color of the sky on a clear day. In the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color model, #194ACD is composed of 9.8% red, 29% green, and 80.4% blue. The CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) values are 88%, 64%, 0%, and 20%. This color is often perceived as calming and serene, evoking feelings of peace, tranquility, and expansiveness. Historically, cerulean pigments were derived from naturally occurring minerals, and the color has been used in art and design for centuries to represent both natural landscapes and abstract concepts.
The hex color #194ACD, also known as Cerulean Blue, presents some accessibility challenges, particularly when used as a foreground color on a white or light background. Its relatively low luminance value (approximately 0.15) means that the contrast ratio may not meet WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards for text legibility. Specifically, the contrast ratio should be at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (14 points bold or 18 points regular). When using this color for text, it's crucial to pair it with a very light background to ensure sufficient contrast. Alternatively, consider using it for graphical elements or as an accent color where strict text contrast isn't required. Tools like contrast checkers can help evaluate the color combination's compliance with accessibility standards. Also, avoid using this color as a primary color for interactive elements without proper visual cues, as users with visual impairments may struggle to identify them.
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Applications
Website Design for Tech/Healthcare
Cerulean blue evokes feelings of tranquility and sophistication, making it ideal for websites in the technology or healthcare sectors. It can be used to create a sense of trust and reliability. In a tech company's website, cerulean blue can highlight call-to-action buttons, navigational elements, or section dividers, contributing to a sleek and professional user interface. In healthcare, it can be used as a secondary color to create a calming effect while maintaining an air of expertise. This color provides a modern and user-friendly look that is ideal for the presentation of complex information.
Marketing and Branding for Luxury Goods
This specific shade of blue exudes a sense of refined elegance, making it a good fit for luxury brand marketing materials. In fashion, it can be used to accent the colors of clothing lines or accessories. It can also be applied in packaging design, particularly for cosmetic or skincare products, communicating purity and quality. Its calming and visually pleasant nature also means it can be an excellent addition to interior design choices, such as a feature wall, furniture accents or even as a core part of an artwork.
Data Visualisation
Cerulean blue can be used in data visualization to provide a clear and accessible visual experience for the user. Use this color to represent a category of data that is easily distinguishable from other colors. This can be combined with accessibility considerations, such as labels and tooltips, to provide enhanced information for the user. Different shades of the base cerulean blue color can be used to provide information about a metric or category.