Exploring the Color #74A0B8

#74A0B8 sits at 201° on the color wheel, placing it in the azure family of the cool half of the spectrum. With 32% saturation and 59% 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 116, 160, 184 produces a 7.46:1 contrast ratio against black, which clears WCAG AAA for body text in that pairing.

In RGB space #74A0B8 is a clear variant of CSS steel blue — about 55 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