Tethys Bright Color Palette
#C8D8E8 · #E8E8F0 · #5C8EA8 · #2E3A4A
Use #C8D8E8 as the background. Use #E8E8F0 as the primary accent. Use #5C8EA8 as secondary. Use #2E3A4A as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Tethys Bright — tethys, bright, ice.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Tethys Bright 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: 67.2% | 200, 216, 232 | 14%, 7%, 0%, 9% | 210°, 41%, 85% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 81.2% | 232, 232, 240 | 3%, 3%, 0%, 6% | 240°, 21%, 93% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 24.4% | 92, 142, 168 | 45%, 15%, 0%, 34% | 201°, 30%, 51% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 4.1% | 46, 58, 74 | 38%, 22%, 0%, 71% | 214°, 23%, 24% |
Tethys Bright 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 Tethys Bright palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Tethys Bright 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2E3A4A on #E8E8F0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.47:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #E8E8F0 on #2E3A4A |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.47:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #2E3A4A on #C8D8E8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.93:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #C8D8E8 on #2E3A4A |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.93:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #2E3A4A on #5C8EA8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.24:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #5C8EA8 on #2E3A4A |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.24:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #5C8EA8 on #E8E8F0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.93:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8E8F0 on #5C8EA8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.93:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5C8EA8 on #C8D8E8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.45:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8D8E8 on #5C8EA8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.45:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8E8F0 on #C8D8E8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.19:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8D8E8 on #E8E8F0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.19:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Custom Scheme
The Tethys Bright palette is built using a custom relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
A custom palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Best Design Use Cases
Industries This Palette Suits
Colors That Pair Well With Tethys Bright
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 #E8E8F0 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #E8E8F0 — 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 Tethys Bright Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #E8E8F0 for small UI elements on #C8D8E8 — at 1.2:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #2E3A4A — 7.9:1 against #C8D8E8 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #5C8EA8 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #E8E8F0.
How to Implement the Tethys Bright Color Scheme
To use this Tethys Bright 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 #C8D8E8 for the main background and #E8E8F0 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #2E3A4A and #C8D8E8 is 7.93:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Tethys Bright Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Tethys Bright color palette?
The Tethys Bright palette contains #C8D8E8, #E8E8F0, #5C8EA8, #2E3A4A. 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 Tethys Bright color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #2E3A4A on #E8E8F0 reaches 9.5:1 (AAA). 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 Tethys Bright palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #C3C3A2, #EDEBEF, #121416 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 Tethys Bright palette create?
Tethys Bright reads as tethys, bright, ice. Muted blue drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated cyan-blue — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Tethys Bright color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Tethys Bright 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 Tethys Bright 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 Tethys Bright's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.