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Energetic Cataract

#03d1f6
Notes

Energetic Cataract (#03D1F6) is a true cyan with a neon character. It sits at the high-saturation edge of its family. Use it sparingly, as signage, accent, or highlight against darker surfaces. Its HSL profile (189°, 98%, 49%) places it in the highly saturated band at a mid lightness. Best used in small doses, like logos, CTAs, focus rings, or highlight text, where its saturation becomes a feature rather than noise. For a confident two-color system, pair it with its complementary red. For something softer, pull in its analogous neighbors on either side of the wheel.

HEX
#03d1f6
RGB
rgb(3, 209, 246)
HSL
hsl(189, 98%, 49%)
HWB
hwb(189 1% 4%)
OKLCH
oklch(79.4% 0.141 216.7)
HSV
hsv(189, 99%, 96%)
LAB
lab(77.44% -29.75 -30.13)
LCH
lch(77.44% 42.34 225.36)
CMYK
cmyk(99%, 15%, 0%, 4%)

Etymology

Energetic
adjective

Greek energētikós, active — derived from energeia (activity). As a color modifier, energetic implies a saturated-and-kinetic-and-active quality where the hue carries visual vibration and movement-suggestion that engages the eye dynamically. Sits at the bright-and-active end of the grid, parallel to dynamic and spirited in usage.

Cataract
noun

A large waterfall with significant volume — particularly the Cataracts of the Nile and the Iguaçu Cataract of South America. Cataract color refers to the deep blue-white of high-volume falling water at Iguaçu: a saturated, slightly cool deep blue-white with the optical brightness of micron-scale air-water mixing.

Closest matches

The nearest named color in three reference sources, ranked by perceptual distance (ΔE76 in CIELAB). ΔE < 1 is imperceptible to most viewers; ΔE > 10 is clearly different. When two sources point to the same hex they’re merged into one tile; click any to open that color’s page.

Variations

Click any swatch to explore

Harmonies

Accessibility

Color-vision simulation

How this color appears to viewers with the four major color-vision-deficiency types. Computed via the Machado (2009) physiologically-based model. If a tile matches the original, the color reads the same to that viewer.

#03d1f6
Original
#b9caf8
Protanopia
#9db7f6
Deuteranopia
#00dedd
Tritanopia
#a8a8a8
Achromatopsia
WCAG contrast

The color used as foreground text against pure white and pure black, with the contrast ratio and WCAG 2.1 grade. Aim for AA (4.5:1) for body text and AA Large (3:1) for 18 pt+ headlines; AAA (7:1) is the gold standard for long-form reading surfaces.

The quick brown foxSample body text at normal size. The wcag minimum for body contrast is 4.5:1 (AA) or 7:1 (AAA).
Failon White
1.83:1
The quick brown foxSample body text at normal size. The wcag minimum for body contrast is 4.5:1 (AA) or 7:1 (AAA).
AAAon Black
11.45:1

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