USAFA Blue

HEX: #004F98 | Modern Palette

On White
8.17:1
PASS
On Black
2.57:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#004F98
RGB
0, 79, 152
HSL
208°, 100% ,59%
CMYK
100, 48.03, 0, 40.39

About USAFA Blue

USAFA Blue (#004F98) is a color with RGB(0, 79, 152) and HSL(208.82°, 100%, 59.61%). It is commonly associated with Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Neon styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #984900, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #98004F and #4F9800. The name comes from USAFA Blue (English).

  • HEX: #004F98
  • RGB: 0, 79, 152
  • HSL: 208.82°, 100%, 59.61%
  • Mood: Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Neon
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #984900
  • Triadic colors: #98004F, #4F9800
  • The name comes from USAFA Blue (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

USAFA Blue #004F98 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
USAFA BLUE
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
USAFA BLUE
 
 
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

USAFA Blue #004F98 pairs with #984900 as its complementary color, and #98004F and #4F9800 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

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

USAFA BLUE
Analogous

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

USAFA BLUE
Triadic

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

USAFA BLUE
Split-Complementary

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

USAFA BLUE
Tetradic (Square)

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

USAFA BLUE
Monochromatic

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

USAFA BLUE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for USAFA Blue #004F98 moves from dark #000D1A tones through the base color to lighter #E6F3FF tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

USAFA BLUE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold
Style
Vivid Neon
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #434398
Protanopia #4B4B98
Tritanopia #005C5C
Achromatopsia #4F4F4F

Frequently Asked Questions

USAFA Blue (#004F98) is a color with RGB(0, 79, 152) and HSL(208.82°, 100%, 59.61%).

#004F98 pairs strongly with #984900 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#004F98 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Neon styles.

#004F98 is commonly associated with Bold.

The name USAFA Blue is linked to USAFA Blue from English, meaning The official primary color of the United States Air Force Academy..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word USAFA Blue
Meaning The official primary color of the United States Air Force Academy.
Language English
First Recorded Use Mid-20th Century

History

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) was established in 1954. As with many institutions, the selection of official colors was an important part of establishing its identity. The 'USAFA Blue' (often represented by the hex code #004f98 or similar variations) was chosen to represent the vastness of the sky and the Air Force's domain. It is a deep, rich blue that evokes professionalism, strength, and the heritage of flight. It is prominently featured in the Academy's crest, uniforms, athletic teams (the Falcons), and branding.

First Recorded Use

1950s

Cultural Associations

USAFA Blue is a highly recognizable color within military and aviation circles, specifically associated with the United States Air Force Academy. It symbolizes the institution's values, its cadets, and its contributions to national defense. It is often seen alongside silver or white, which are also part of the Academy's official color palette. The color is deeply ingrained in the identity of USAFA graduates and personnel.

Similar Named Colors
Medium Electric Blue #035096 ΔE 0.49
Yale Blue #0F4D92 ΔE 1.09
Cyan Cobalt Blue #28589C ΔE 3.40
B'dazzled Blue #2E5894 ΔE 3.65

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #004F98;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #004F98;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #004F98;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #004F98,
        #FF9431
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #004F98,
        #FF9431
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$usafa-blue: #004F98;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$usafa-blue-r: 0;
$usafa-blue-g: 79;
$usafa-blue-b: 152;

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