#018BA4 · #3681C0
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 1/100 (fail) · Harmony 93/100 (analogous) · Distinguishable 22/100 (hard to tell apart) · Match 41/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Dark Cyan and Steel Blue are a clear pair (ΔE 27). They have closely related hues (18° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Dark Cyan text on Steel Blue: 1.03:1 (Fail); Steel Blue text on Dark Cyan: 1.03:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #00151B clears it.
Analogous — analogous — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 93/100). This is about how they look together (clothing, interiors, branding), independent of text contrast.
Not at body size — the best direction is only 1.0:1, below the 4.5:1 minimum. Nudging one colour to #00151B clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 27 — a clear pair.
clearly different colours (ΔE 27).
Explore each color: Dark Cyan #018BA4 · Steel Blue #3681C0 · Shades: Dark Cyan shades · Steel Blue shades · Contrast checker →