Meltwater Blue Color Palette
#7AB8D8 · #A8D0E0 · #C8DCE8 · #2E5E82
Use #7AB8D8 as the background. Use #A8D0E0 as the primary accent. Use #C8DCE8 as secondary. Use #2E5E82 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Meltwater Blue — ocean, cool, mono, pastel.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Meltwater Blue color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 43.4% | 122, 184, 216 | 44%, 15%, 0%, 15% | 200°, 55%, 66% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 58.8% | 168, 208, 224 | 25%, 7%, 0%, 12% | 197°, 47%, 77% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 69.3% | 200, 220, 232 | 14%, 5%, 0%, 9% | 202°, 41%, 85% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 10.2% | 46, 94, 130 | 65%, 28%, 0%, 49% | 206°, 48%, 35% |
Meltwater Blue Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Meltwater Blue palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Meltwater Blue Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2E5E82 on #C8DCE8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.89:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #C8DCE8 on #2E5E82 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.89:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #2E5E82 on #A8D0E0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.20:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #A8D0E0 on #2E5E82 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.20:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #2E5E82 on #7AB8D8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.18:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #7AB8D8 on #2E5E82 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.18:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C8DCE8 on #7AB8D8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.54:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #7AB8D8 on #C8DCE8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.54:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A8D0E0 on #7AB8D8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.32:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #7AB8D8 on #A8D0E0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.32:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8DCE8 on #A8D0E0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.16:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A8D0E0 on #C8DCE8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.16:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Meltwater Blue palette is built using a analogous relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Best Design Use Cases
Industries This Palette Suits
Colors That Pair Well With Meltwater Blue
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
directly opposite #A8D0E0 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #A8D0E0 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Meltwater Blue Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #A8D0E0 for small UI elements on #7AB8D8 — at 1.3:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #2E5E82 on #7AB8D8 — 3.2:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #C8DCE8 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Meltwater Blue Color Scheme
To use this Meltwater Blue color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'} Web Design Tip
Use #7AB8D8 for the main background and #A8D0E0 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #2E5E82 and #7AB8D8 is 3.18:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Meltwater Blue Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Meltwater Blue color palette?
The Meltwater Blue palette contains #7AB8D8, #A8D0E0, #C8DCE8, #2E5E82. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Meltwater Blue color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #2E5E82 on #C8DCE8 reaches 4.9:1 (AA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Meltwater Blue palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #D6A38F, #AFB8DA, #121517 extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Meltwater Blue palette create?
Meltwater Blue reads as ocean, cool, mono. Gently saturated cyan-blue drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated cyan-blue — a combination that works best when the light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Meltwater Blue color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Meltwater Blue palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Meltwater Blue palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Meltwater Blue's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.