#022650

Color Profile: #022650

Subject: Arts & Entertainment / Visual Art & Design

Common Name: Deep Navy Blue

Core Specs
Hex: #022650
RGB: 2, 38, 80
HSL: ~212°, ~95%, ~16%
CMYK (approx.): 98, 52, 0, 69

Contrast Check
vs White (#FFFFFF): 15.0:1 — AA/AAA pass for normal & large text
vs Black (#000000): 1.4:1 — AA fail (use tints or outlines)

Mood
This blue is steady, no drama — reads as disciplined, smart, and a little mysterious. It brings gallery-night energy without shouting. People trust it on screens and love it on print because it stays classy even when everything else is loud.

Close Named Matches (by brand)

• RAL Classic 5026 “Pearl night blue” — #0B2751 (ΔE ≈ 1.18) standout hit
• Pantone FHI 20-0145 TPM “Galactica” — #112C56 (ΔE ≈ 3.05) excellent proximity
• Pantone Solid Coated 282 C — #002147 (ΔE ≈ 3.37) trusted corporate navy
• RAL Design 280 20 30 — #0D2F5A (ΔE ≈ 4.18) production-friendly neighbor
• Dutch Boy “Insignia Blue” B006 — #173058 (ΔE ≈ 5.24) interior/trim veteran

Note: Lower ΔE ≈ closer visual match; lighting, substrate, and finish can nudge perception.

Usage Tips
On Light UI: Use as headline/CTA color; keep body text at 80–90% black for hierarchy.
On Dark UI: Lift with ~8–12% lighter tints for surfaces; reserve pure #022650 for accents and focus states.
Print: Prefer spot equivalents above for brand consistency; on uncoated stock, expect slight lift (add a hairline rich-black outline for micro type if needed).
Motion/Brand: Pairs well with warm neutrals, pale sand, muted coral, or cool steel grays.

Why Designers Use It.

• Credibility without boredom. This shade sits in the “serious, not stiff” band — a staple for arts institutions, education, and editorial design. It anchors brand systems while letting photography and artwork shine.
• Screen reliability. Dark navies compress well and avoid banding in gradients; #022650 keeps saturation alive at small sizes, so icons and controls feel sharp on SDR and HDR displays alike.
• Print & paint ready. There are strong near-equivalents across RAL and Pantone, so signage, museum wayfinding, stage sets, and exhibition plinths can align closely (ΔE ~1–4 achievable with good vendors).
• Cultural resonance. Reads as “nautical and modern” in EU/UK markets, “tech-pro” in North America. It nods to indigo textile traditions and midnight cityscapes — useful for fashion lookbooks, album art, and poster design.
• Industry reach. Common in aerospace liveries, higher-ed seals, fintech dashboards, and pro audio gear. Matte coatings give a velvet feel for interiors; gloss turns it into a sleek automotive accent.
• Accessibility strategy. With white text it comfortably clears 4.5:1, enabling compliance on buttons, tags, and badges; add a pale outline or inner shadow if you must place it near dark imagery.