Color swatch image showing #A9BAAD with RGB(169,186,173) values
Color swatch image showing #A9BAAD with RGB(169,186,173) values

#A9BAAD Color Meaning and Information

Everything you need to know about #A9BAAD including values, color harmonies, shades, meanings, and applications in design, branding, and everyday visuals.

#A9BAAD Color Information

#A9BAAD RGB value is (169, 186, 173). The hex color red value is 169, green is 186, and blue is 173. Its HSL format shows a hue of 134°, saturation of 11 percent, and lightness of 70 percent. The CMYK process values are 9 percent, 0 percent, 7 percent, 27 percent.

#A9BAAD color swatch
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#A9BAAD Color Meaning

Color #A9BAAD suggests scholarly serenity, institutional calm, and refined neutrality. Color #A9BAAD is a soft, greyed green-blue historically tied to the University of Cambridge’s rowing and academic regalia. Its muted saturation makes #A9BAAD ideal for environments where distraction must be minimized but warmth preserved. Unlike clinical pastels, color #A9BAAD carries enough green to feel organic and enough grey to feel disciplined. Psychological research on classroom color schemes shows that tones like color #A9BAAD improve concentration in adolescents by reducing overstimulation without inducing drowsiness. In branding, color #A9BAAD signals heritage with humility. #A9BAAD appears in educational nonprofits, editorial platforms, and heritage fashion where quiet confidence outweighs bold claims. Because #A9BAAD sits near the threshold of green and blue, color #A9BAAD bridges emotional calm (blue) and growth mindset (green)—a rare duality. Digital accessibility tests confirm #A9BAAD meets contrast standards for body text when paired with deep charcoals, making #A9BAAD viable for inclusive design. Its subtlety demands thoughtful pairing, which elevates the perception of craftsmanship. Symbolically, color #A9BAAD represents the space between knowledge and wisdom—the pause before conclusion. #A9BAAD is not the color of debate but of reflection. In spiritual design, #A9BAAD mirrors the stillness of mist over water: clarity emerging slowly. Color #A9BAAD rarely dominates a palette; instead, #A9BAAD supports, stabilizes, and softens. Designers use #A9BAAD when the goal is to invite contemplation, not command attention—making #A9BAAD a chromatic whisper with institutional weight.

Color Conversion

Convert #A9BAAD 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
#A9BAAD
RGB
rgb(169, 186, 173)
HSL
hsl(134°, 11%, 70%)
CMYK
cmyk(9%, 0%, 7%, 27%)
HSV
hsv(134°, 9%, 73%)
XYZ
41.4639 46.5700 46.3387
Yxy
46.5700 0.3086 0.3466
Hunter Lab
68.2422 -1.7761 0.8786
CIE-Lab
73.9139 -8.3490 4.5858

RGB Values & CMYK Values

RGB Values

Red169 / 255 (66%)
66%
Green186 / 255 (73%)
73%
Blue173 / 255 (68%)
68%

CMYK Values

Cyan9 / 100 (9%)
Magenta0 / 100 (0%)
Yellow7 / 100 (7%)
Key (Black)27 / 100 (27%)
27%

Color Variations

#A9BAAD 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

#A9BAAD 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 #A9BAAD 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
#A9BAAD

Sample Text

This is how your text will look with these colors.

Large Text (18pt+)

2.04:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Normal Text

2.04:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

UI Components

2.04:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Color Blindness Simulator

See how #A9BAAD 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

#A9BAAD

protanopia

#b0b1b0

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

CSS Examples

Background Color

background-color: #A9BAAD;

Text Color

color: #A9BAAD;

Sample Text

Border Color

border: 2px solid #A9BAAD;

Box Shadow

box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #A9BAAD40;

Text Shadow

text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px #A9BAAD;

Sample Text

Gradient

background: linear-gradient(135deg, #A9BAAD 0%, #5c7361 100%);

#A9BAAD Color FAQs

Frequently asked questions about #A9BAAD color meaning, symbolism, and applications. Click on any question to expand detailed answers.