Color swatch image showing #686C59 with RGB(104,108,89) values

#686C59 Color Meaning and Information

Everything you need to know about #686C59 including values, color harmonies, shades, meanings, and applications in design, branding, and everyday visuals.

#686C59 Color Information

#686C59 RGB value is (104, 108, 89). The hex color red value is 104, green is 108, and blue is 89. Its HSL format shows a hue of 73°, saturation of 10 percent, and lightness of 39 percent. The CMYK process values are 4 percent, 0 percent, 18 percent, 58 percent.

#686C59 color swatch
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#686C59 Color Meaning

Color #686C59 conveys urban pragmatism, weathered resilience, and functional neutrality. Color #686C59 is a green-tinged grey that mirrors poured concrete after rain—cool, textured, and quietly enduring. Unlike sterile greys, #686C59 carries organic undertones from its green bias, softening its industrial edge. In architectural and infrastructure design, #686C59 hue signals durability without coldness. Environmental psychology links such warm greys to perceived stability in public spaces, reducing feelings of transience or neglect. Functionally, color #686C59 serves as a grounding neutral in minimalist and industrial aesthetics. #686C59 pairs well with rust, olive, and white oak, creating palettes that feel urban but not harsh. Digital use is strong as a background or card color in data-heavy interfaces, where #686C59 reduces glare without draining energy. Print consistency is high, especially on matte finishes that enhance its tactile quality. Consumer studies show products in color #686C59 are rated as more durable and utilitarian—ideal for tooling, tech accessories, and workwear. Culturally, color #686C59 reflects the beauty of the built environment—bridges, sidewalks, studio floors. #686C59 appears in streetwear, documentary film, and sustainable architecture as a symbol of honest materials. Spiritually, #686C59 connects to the root chakra’s grounded mode: presence through place. Designers use color #686C59 when they want to signal strength without show. Its reliability is its rebellion.

Color Conversion

Convert #686C59 across different color models and formats. These conversions help designers work seamlessly between digital and print media, ensuring this color maintains its intended appearance across RGB screens, CMYK printers, and HSL color manipulations.

HEX
#686C59
RGB
rgb(104, 108, 89)
HSL
hsl(73°, 10%, 39%)
CMYK
cmyk(4%, 0%, 18%, 58%)
HSV
hsv(73°, 18%, 42%)
XYZ
12.8747 14.3894 11.5501
Yxy
14.3894 0.3317 0.3707
Hunter Lab
37.9334 -0.2828 0.4604
CIE-Lab
44.7863 -5.2255 10.1284

RGB Values & CMYK Values

RGB Values

Red104 / 255 (41%)
41%
Green108 / 255 (42%)
42%
Blue89 / 255 (35%)
35%

CMYK Values

Cyan4 / 100 (4%)
Magenta0 / 100 (0%)
Yellow18 / 100 (18%)
18%
Key (Black)58 / 100 (58%)
58%

Color Variations

#686C59 harmonies come to life through carefully balanced shades, tints, and tones, giving this color depth and flexibility across light and dark variations. Shades add richness, tints bring an airy softness, and tones soften intensity, making it easy to pair in clean, modern palettes.

Color Harmonies

#686C59 harmonies create beautiful relationships with other colors based on their position on the color wheel. Each harmony type offers unique design possibilities, enabling cohesive and visually appealing color schemes.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the color wheel (30° apart)

Complementary

Colors opposite on the color wheel (180° apart)

Split Complementary

Three colors using one base hue and the two hues beside its opposite

Triadic

Three colors evenly spaced (120° apart)

Tetradic

Four colors forming a rectangle on the wheel

Square

Four colors evenly spaced (90° apart)

Double Split

Four colors formed from two base hues and the colors next to their opposites

Monochromatic

Variations of a single hue

Contrast Checker

(WCAG 2.1) Test #686C59 for accessibility compliance against white and black backgrounds. Proper contrast ensures this color remains readable and usable for all audiences, meeting WCAG 2.1 standards for both normal and large text applications.

#FFFFFF
#686C59

Sample Text

This is how your text will look with these colors.

Large Text (18pt+)

5.42:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Normal Text

5.42:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

UI Components

5.42:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Color Blindness Simulator

See how #686C59 appears to people with different types of color vision deficiencies. These simulations help create more inclusive designs that consider how this color is perceived across various visual abilities.

Normal Vision

#686C59

protanopia

#6a6a5e

Note: These simulations are approximations. Actual color vision deficiency varies by individual.

CSS Examples

Background Color

background-color: #686C59;

Text Color

color: #686C59;

Sample Text

Border Color

border: 2px solid #686C59;

Box Shadow

box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #686C5940;

Text Shadow

text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px #686C59;

Sample Text

Gradient

background: linear-gradient(135deg, #686C59 0%, #3f4236 100%);

#686C59 Color FAQs

Frequently asked questions about #686C59 color meaning, symbolism, and applications. Click on any question to expand detailed answers.