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Energetic Crystalline

#3dbbf3
Notes

Energetic Crystalline (#3DBBF3) 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 (198°, 88%, 60%) 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 orange. For something softer, pull in its analogous neighbors on either side of the wheel.

HEX
#3dbbf3
RGB
rgb(61, 187, 243)
HSL
hsl(198, 88%, 60%)
HWB
hwb(198 24% 5%)
OKLCH
oklch(74.8% 0.134 232.2)
HSV
hsv(198, 75%, 95%)
LAB
lab(71.55% -16.08 -37.56)
LCH
lch(71.55% 40.86 246.83)
CMYK
cmyk(75%, 23%, 0%, 5%)

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.

Crystalline
noun

Water of exceptional clarity — particularly the crystalline mountain springs of Alpine and Andean rivers. Crystalline color refers to a fresh-emerged spring water in a marble basin at Plitvice Lakes: a soft, slightly cool pale blue with the optical clarity of mineral-saturated water.

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.

#3dbbf3
Original
#9fb9f6
Protanopia
#87a8f2
Deuteranopia
#00cace
Tritanopia
#a4a4a4
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
2.19:1
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
9.60:1

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Canvas