Color swatch image showing #A9BAB0 with RGB(169,186,176) values

#A9BAB0 Color Meaning and Information

Everything you need to know about #A9BAB0 including values, color harmonies, shades, meanings, and applications in design, branding, and everyday visuals.

#A9BAB0 Color Information

#A9BAB0 RGB value is (169, 186, 176). The hex color red value is 169, green is 186, and blue is 176. Its HSL format shows a hue of 145°, saturation of 11 percent, and lightness of 70 percent. The CMYK process values are 9 percent, 0 percent, 5 percent, 27 percent.

#A9BAB0 color swatch
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#A9BAB0 Color Meaning

Color #A9BAB0 suggests scholarly serenity, institutional calm, and refined neutrality. Color #A9BAB0 is a soft, greyed green-blue historically tied to the University of Cambridge’s rowing and academic regalia. Its muted saturation makes #A9BAB0 ideal for environments where distraction must be minimized but warmth preserved. Unlike clinical pastels, color #A9BAB0 carries enough green to feel organic and enough grey to feel disciplined. Psychological research on classroom color schemes shows that tones like color #A9BAB0 improve concentration in adolescents by reducing overstimulation without inducing drowsiness. In branding, color #A9BAB0 signals heritage with humility. #A9BAB0 appears in educational nonprofits, editorial platforms, and heritage fashion where quiet confidence outweighs bold claims. Because #A9BAB0 sits near the threshold of green and blue, color #A9BAB0 bridges emotional calm (blue) and growth mindset (green)—a rare duality. Digital accessibility tests confirm #A9BAB0 meets contrast standards for body text when paired with deep charcoals, making #A9BAB0 viable for inclusive design. Its subtlety demands thoughtful pairing, which elevates the perception of craftsmanship. Symbolically, color #A9BAB0 represents the space between knowledge and wisdom—the pause before conclusion. #A9BAB0 is not the color of debate but of reflection. In spiritual design, #A9BAB0 mirrors the stillness of mist over water: clarity emerging slowly. Color #A9BAB0 rarely dominates a palette; instead, #A9BAB0 supports, stabilizes, and softens. Designers use #A9BAB0 when the goal is to invite contemplation, not command attention—making #A9BAB0 a chromatic whisper with institutional weight.

Color Conversion

Convert #A9BAB0 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
#A9BAB0
RGB
rgb(169, 186, 176)
HSL
hsl(145°, 11%, 70%)
CMYK
cmyk(9%, 0%, 5%, 27%)
HSV
hsv(145°, 9%, 73%)
XYZ
41.7576 46.6874 47.8850
Yxy
46.6874 0.3063 0.3425
Hunter Lab
68.3282 -1.6627 0.5941
CIE-Lab
73.9894 -7.7814 3.0609

RGB Values & CMYK Values

RGB Values

Red169 / 255 (66%)
66%
Green186 / 255 (73%)
73%
Blue176 / 255 (69%)
69%

CMYK Values

Cyan9 / 100 (9%)
Magenta0 / 100 (0%)
Yellow5 / 100 (5%)
Key (Black)27 / 100 (27%)
27%

Color Variations

#A9BAB0 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

#A9BAB0 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 #A9BAB0 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
#A9BAB0

Sample Text

This is how your text will look with these colors.

Large Text (18pt+)

2.03:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Normal Text

2.03:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

UI Components

2.03:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Color Blindness Simulator

See how #A9BAB0 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

#A9BAB0

protanopia

#b0b1b2

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

CSS Examples

Background Color

background-color: #A9BAB0;

Text Color

color: #A9BAB0;

Sample Text

Border Color

border: 2px solid #A9BAB0;

Box Shadow

box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #A9BAB040;

Text Shadow

text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px #A9BAB0;

Sample Text

Gradient

background: linear-gradient(135deg, #A9BAB0 0%, #5c7365 100%);

#A9BAB0 Color FAQs

Frequently asked questions about #A9BAB0 color meaning, symbolism, and applications. Click on any question to expand detailed answers.