Color swatch image showing Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) with RGB(155,221,255) values

Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) Color Meaning and Information

Everything you need to know about Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) including values, color harmonies, shades, meanings, and applications in design, branding, and everyday visuals.

Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) Color Information

Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) RGB value is (155, 221, 255). The hex color red value is 155, green is 221, and blue is 255. Its HSL format shows a hue of 200°, saturation of 100 percent, and lightness of 80 percent. The CMYK process values are 39 percent, 13 percent, 0 percent, 0 percent.

Columbia Blue
#9BDDFF
rgb(155, 221, 255)
ColorMean
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Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) Color Meaning

Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) radiates accessible optimism, institutional friendliness, and democratic clarity. Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) is a bright, slightly green-leaning azure associated with Columbia University but widely adopted for its approachable brightness. Unlike royal blue, it avoids formality; unlike sky blue, it retains enough saturation to feel intentional. In educational and civic design, this hue signals openness without naivety—common in public school branding, municipal websites, and community health platforms. Psychological research shows it increases perceived transparency and approachability in institutional contexts. Functionally, Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) excels as a primary or accent in digital interfaces. It offers strong contrast against deep greys and meets WCAG AA standards for large text. It’s widely used in edtech, nonprofit dashboards, and youth programs where engagement must feel light but not frivolous. Print reproduction is consistent across coated stocks, though it requires bright white paper to preserve luminance. Consumer studies show higher trust in brands using Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) versus cooler pastels. Symbolically, Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) represents community that includes. It is not the blue of elite institutions but of shared learning. In cultural contexts, it appears in public library campaigns, voter engagement, and civic tech as a symbol of access as equity. Spiritually, it aligns with the throat chakra’s inclusive mode: communication that invites. Designers use Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) when they want to signal optimism with structure. Its clarity is kind.

Color Conversion

Convert Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) 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
#9BDDFF
RGB
rgb(155, 221, 255)
HSL
hsl(200°, 100%, 80%)
CMYK
cmyk(39%, 13%, 0%, 0%)
HSV
hsv(200°, 39%, 100%)
XYZ
57.4240 65.9015 104.3014
Yxy
65.9015 0.2523 0.2895
Hunter Lab
81.1797 -3.9347 -7.7876
CIE-Lab
84.9461 -12.4229 -23.1095

RGB Values & CMYK Values

RGB Values

Red155 / 255 (61%)
61%
Green221 / 255 (87%)
87%
Blue255 / 255 (100%)
100%

CMYK Values

Cyan39 / 100 (39%)
39%
Magenta13 / 100 (13%)
13%
Yellow0 / 100 (0%)
Key (Black)0 / 100 (0%)

Color Variations

Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) 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

Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) 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 Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) 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
#9BDDFF

Sample Text

This is how your text will look with these colors.

Large Text (18pt+)

1.48:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Normal Text

1.48:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

UI Components

1.48:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Color Blindness Simulator

See how #9BDDFF 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

Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF)

protanopia

#b8b8f7

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

CSS Examples

Background Color

background-color: #9BDDFF;

Text Color

color: #9BDDFF;

Sample Text

Border Color

border: 2px solid #9BDDFF;

Box Shadow

box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #9BDDFF40;

Text Shadow

text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px #9BDDFF;

Sample Text

Gradient

background: linear-gradient(135deg, #9BDDFF 0%, #009cea 100%);

Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) Color FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Blue (#9BDDFF) color meaning, symbolism, and applications. Click on any question to expand detailed answers.