Exploring the Color #6996B1

#6996B1 sits at 203° on the color wheel, placing it in the azure family of the cool half of the spectrum. With 32% saturation and 55% lightness, it reads as a softly muted, light tone — a balanced mid-energy presence that sits comfortably alongside other UI tones. Its RGB mix of 105, 150, 177 produces a 6.60:1 contrast ratio against black, which clears WCAG AA for body text in that pairing.

In RGB space #6996B1 is a clear variant of CSS steel blue — about 40 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