Cerulean Blue
General Information about Cerulean Blue
The hexadecimal color #284DBE, also known as Cerulean Blue, is a vibrant and deep shade of blue. It's composed of 15.7% red, 30.2% green, and 74.5% blue. In the RGB color model, it has values of R:40, G:77, B:190. In the CMYK color model, it's composed of 78.9% cyan, 59.5% magenta, 0% yellow, and 25.5% black. Cerulean blue is often associated with tranquility, depth, and stability. It's a popular color in various applications, including web design, fashion, and interior design. It is a color often used when portraying trust, responsibility and safety. It is not as dark as a navy blue, while not being as light as a sky blue.
The color #284DBE, a shade of cerulean blue, presents some accessibility considerations for web development. Its contrast ratio against white (#FFFFFF) is relatively low, which might pose challenges for users with visual impairments. According to WCAG guidelines, sufficient contrast is crucial for readability and usability. Using this color for text on a white background might require increasing the font size or weight to improve legibility. Alternatively, pairing it with a lighter shade of blue or a contrasting color like yellow or orange can enhance accessibility. When using #284DBE for interactive elements like buttons or links, ensure that the hover and focus states provide clear visual cues to aid navigation for all users. Careful consideration of color combinations and text sizes is essential to make websites inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their visual abilities. Using accessibility evaluation tools is highly recommended.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
- #3366cc
A slightly lighter shade of blue that offers better contrast against white backgrounds, improving readability.
- #6699cc
A desaturated blue that can be used as a neutral background color, providing a calming effect without distracting from content.
- #4682b4
This alternative to #284DBE increases the perceived brightness and can improve visibility in various lighting conditions.
Applications
Web Design
In web design, #284DBE can be used to create a sense of trust and stability. It's suitable for header backgrounds, button accents, and link highlights. It can also be used for data visualization, providing a calming visual for charts and graphs. Using this blue in a website's color palette is useful for websites and applications for finance, medical or other professional fields.
Fashion
In fashion, cerulean blue is often used in both casual and formal wear, and is known to bring out the color of eyes, especially blue and green. It can be paired with neutrals like gray, white, and black for a sophisticated look, or combined with bolder colors like yellow or pink for a vibrant ensemble. Cerulean blue is often seen as a color of intelligence and depth.
Interior Design
In interior design, #284DBE can be used as an accent color to add a pop of color to a room. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms, or home offices, and especially well in rooms with wooden or metal elements. Pair with white or light gray walls for a modern and fresh look. The color adds a splash of depth without feeling overpowering.