Exploring the Color #5B85A8

#5B85A8 sits at 207° on the color wheel, placing it in the azure family of the cool half of the spectrum. With 31% saturation and 51% lightness, it reads as a softly muted, balanced tone — a balanced mid-energy presence that sits comfortably alongside other UI tones. Its RGB mix of 91, 133, 168 produces a 5.37:1 contrast ratio against black, which clears WCAG AA for body text in that pairing.

In RGB space #5B85A8 is a close cousin of CSS steel blue — about 24 units away from #4682B4. Designers reach for azure hues at this saturation when the brief calls for a conversational, mid-energy register, and at this lightness when they want a present, comfortable mid-canvas voice. On screen the cool cast tends to pair best with warm neutrals in the 25°-45° range to add life.

Darkening Shades

Lightening Shades