#8997A3 Hex Color
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This dusty, ashy blue carries a muted character that feels professional and steady. Because it is highly desaturated, #8997a3 works best as a neutral background or supporting tone in corporate UI designs. It pairs well with crisp charcoal for contrast, as black text reads clearly against it. Avoid using it alongside other muddy tones, as it can easily wash out and lose its impact.
Questions about #8997a3
What is #8997a3 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #8997a3 is rgb(137, 151, 163), in HSL hsl(208, 12%, 59%) and in CMYK 16%, 7%, 0%, 36%.
What colors pair well with #8997a3?
#8997a3 works best when contrasted against deep neutrals like charcoal or slate, which provide the necessary depth to keep the design from feeling washed out. You can also pair it with soft, muted whites for a clean, sophisticated corporate look.
Is #8997a3 suitable for text backgrounds?
#8997a3 is excellent as a secondary background color, but always verify contrast ratios when placing text on top of it. Because the color is desaturated, black or very dark grey text usually ensures the best readability for interface elements.
Is #8997a3 readable on white or black?
#8997a3 has a 2.99:1 contrast ratio on white and 7.01:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it is too faint for text and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.