Exploring the Color #787B8B

#787B8B sits at 231° on the color wheel, placing it in the blue family of the cool half of the spectrum. With 8% saturation and 51% lightness, it reads as a heavily muted, balanced tone — a quiet, restrained presence that recedes rather than competes. Its RGB mix of 120, 123, 139 produces a 5.00:1 contrast ratio against black, which clears WCAG AA for body text in that pairing.

In RGB space #787B8B is a close cousin of CSS gray — about 14 units away from #808080. Designers reach for blue hues at this saturation when the brief calls for restraint and atmosphere, 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