#018D87 · #1388A3
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 0/100 (fail) · Harmony 76/100 (analogous) · Distinguishable 20/100 (hard to tell apart) · Match 53/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Dark Cyan and Cerulean are a clear pair (ΔE 21). They have closely related hues (14° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Dark Cyan text on Cerulean: 1.02:1 (Fail); Cerulean text on Dark Cyan: 1.02:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #001615 clears it.
Analogous — analogous — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 76/100). 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 #001615 clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 21 — a clear pair.
clearly different colours (ΔE 21).
Explore each color: Dark Cyan #018D87 · Cerulean #1388A3 · Shades: Dark Cyan shades · Cerulean shades · Contrast checker →