Phthalo Blue

HEX: #000F89 | Modern Palette

On White
14.69:1
PASS
On Black
1.43:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#000F89
RGB
0, 15, 137
HSL
233°, 100% ,26%
CMYK
100, 89, 0, 46

About Phthalo Blue

Phthalo Blue (#000F89) is a color with RGB(0, 15, 137) and HSL(233.4°, 100%, 26.9%). It is commonly associated with Bold, Luxury moods. In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #897A00, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #89000F and #0F8900. The name comes from Phthalocyanine Blue (English (derived from Greek)).

  • HEX: #000F89
  • RGB: 0, 15, 137
  • HSL: 233.4°, 100%, 26.9%
  • Mood: Bold, Luxury
  • Style: Cool
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #897A00
  • Triadic colors: #89000F, #0F8900
  • The name comes from Phthalocyanine Blue (English (derived from Greek)).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #000F89 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold Luxury
Style
Cool
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #0B0B89
Protanopia #0E0E89
Tritanopia #003535
Achromatopsia #282828

Frequently Asked Questions

Phthalo Blue (#000F89) is a color with RGB(0, 15, 137) and HSL(233.4°, 100%, 26.9%).

#000F89 pairs strongly with #897A00 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#000F89 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Cool styles.

#000F89 is commonly associated with Bold, Luxury.

The name Phthalo Blue is linked to Phthalocyanine Blue from English (derived from Greek), meaning Phthalo is a shortened form of phthalocyanine, referring to the chemical structure of the pigment. Cyanine refers to the blue color..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Phthalocyanine Blue
Meaning Phthalo is a shortened form of phthalocyanine, referring to the chemical structure of the pigment. Cyanine refers to the blue color.
Language English (derived from Greek)
First Recorded Use Early 20th Century

History

Phthalo Blue, specifically the pigment copper phthalocyanine, was accidentally discovered in 1928 by Scottish chemists at Scottish Dyes (later part of ICI). They were attempting to synthesize phthalonitrile and noticed a deep blue impurity. Its commercial production began in 1935 by ICI in the UK and DuPont in the US. It quickly gained popularity due to its intense blue color, high tinting strength, excellent lightfastness, and affordability compared to ultramarine and cobalt blue. It largely replaced Prussian Blue in many applications.

First Recorded Use

1930s

Cultural Associations

Phthalo Blue is a staple in artists' palettes across various mediums (oil, acrylic, watercolor) due to its vibrant, strong blue and excellent mixing properties. It's often used to create deep seascapes, night skies, and cool shadows. Its intensity means it's often used sparingly or mixed with other colors to achieve desired tones. It's also widely used in industrial applications like printing inks, plastics, and paints for its stability and colorfastness.

Similar Named Colors
Ultramarine #120A8F ΔE 1.45
Dark Blue #00008B ΔE 2.13
Navy Blue #000080 ΔE 2.65
Duke Blue #00009C ΔE 3.09

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #000F89;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #000F89;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #000F89;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #000F89,
        #897A00
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #000F89,
        #897A00
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$phthalo-blue: #000F89;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$phthalo-blue-r: 0;
$phthalo-blue-g: 15;
$phthalo-blue-b: 137;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $phthalo-blue;
    color: rgba($phthalo-blue-r, $phthalo-blue-g, $phthalo-blue-b, 0.8);
}