Color swatch image showing Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) with RGB(196,216,226) values

Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) Color Meaning and Information

Everything you need to know about Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) including values, color harmonies, shades, meanings, and applications in design, branding, and everyday visuals.

Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) Color Information

Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) RGB value is (196, 216, 226). The hex color red value is 196, green is 216, and blue is 226. Its HSL format shows a hue of 200°, saturation of 34 percent, and lightness of 83 percent. The CMYK process values are 13 percent, 4 percent, 0 percent, 11 percent.

Columbia Blue
#C4D8E2
rgb(196, 216, 226)
ColorMean
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Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) Color Meaning

Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) offers softened institutional calm, atmospheric neutrality, and gentle professionalism. This lighter, greyer variant of Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) leans toward periwinkle—evoking overcast skies, institutional linens, and calm water. Unlike stark greys, it carries emotional warmth through its blue base; unlike brighter blues, it avoids dominance. In healthcare and education design, this hue reduces anxiety in waiting areas and digital dashboards by offering a chromatic “buffer” that feels supportive without intrusion. In UI/UX systems, Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) functions as a calming background or card color. It meets accessibility contrast standards when paired with deep charcoals or navy text, making it viable for long-form content. Print reproduction is excellent on uncoated stocks, enhancing its use in editorial and academic publishing. Consumer testing reveals higher comfort ratings for interfaces using Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) versus standard light greys. Culturally, Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) reflects care that listens. It appears in mental health platforms, senior services, and public broadcasting as a symbol of support without pressure. Spiritually, it aligns with the throat chakra’s receptive mode: communication that holds space. Designers choose Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) when they want to signal neutrality with heart. Its calm is active, not passive.

Color Conversion

Convert Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) 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
#C4D8E2
RGB
rgb(196, 216, 226)
HSL
hsl(200°, 34%, 83%)
CMYK
cmyk(13%, 4%, 0%, 11%)
HSV
hsv(200°, 13%, 89%)
XYZ
61.0483 66.3385 81.5385
Yxy
66.3385 0.2922 0.3175
Hunter Lab
81.4484 -1.5178 -2.2344
CIE-Lab
85.1688 -4.6708 -7.1913

RGB Values & CMYK Values

RGB Values

Red196 / 255 (77%)
77%
Green216 / 255 (85%)
85%
Blue226 / 255 (89%)
89%

CMYK Values

Cyan13 / 100 (13%)
13%
Magenta4 / 100 (4%)
Yellow0 / 100 (0%)
Key (Black)11 / 100 (11%)
11%

Color Variations

Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) 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 (#C4D8E2) 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 (#C4D8E2) 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
#C4D8E2

Sample Text

This is how your text will look with these colors.

Large Text (18pt+)

1.47:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Normal Text

1.47:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

UI Components

1.47:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Color Blindness Simulator

See how #C4D8E2 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 (#C4D8E2)

protanopia

#cdcde0

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

CSS Examples

Background Color

background-color: #C4D8E2;

Text Color

color: #C4D8E2;

Sample Text

Border Color

border: 2px solid #C4D8E2;

Box Shadow

box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #C4D8E240;

Text Shadow

text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px #C4D8E2;

Sample Text

Gradient

background: linear-gradient(135deg, #C4D8E2 0%, #5087a2 100%);

Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) Color FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Blue (#C4D8E2) color meaning, symbolism, and applications. Click on any question to expand detailed answers.