Picton Blue
HEX: #45B1E8 | Modern Palette
Color Specifications
#45B1E8
69, 177, 232
200°, 70% ,90%
70.26, 23.71, 0, 9.02
About Picton Blue
Picton Blue (#45B1E8) is a color with RGB(69, 177, 232) and HSL(200.25°, 70.26%, 90.98%). It is commonly associated with Playful moods. In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Background. Its complementary color is #E87C45, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #E845B1 and #B1E845. The name comes from Picton (English).
- HEX: #45B1E8
- RGB: 69, 177, 232
- HSL: 200.25°, 70.26%, 90.98%
- Mood: Playful
- Style: Cool
- Use case: Text, Button, Background
- Complementary color: #E87C45
- Triadic colors: #E845B1, #B1E845
- The name comes from Picton (English).
Live Components
Color Palettes
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 #45B1E8 from deepest shade to lightest tint.
Color Characteristics
Accessibility Simulation
#9B9BE9
#A9A9E8
#1AB9B9
#A7A7A7
Frequently Asked Questions
Name, History & Etymology
History
The name 'Picton Blue' is part of a larger trend in digital color naming where colors are often given evocative or geographical names. The X11 color system, developed for the X Window System, included a wide range of named colors to provide a consistent palette across different displays and applications. Many of these names, like 'Picton Blue', do not have a long historical lineage as named colors in art or fashion, but rather originate from the technical need for a standardized digital color vocabulary. The town of Picton, New Zealand, is a port town in the Marlborough Sounds, known for its clear waters and scenic beauty, which likely inspired the association with this particular shade of blue.
First Recorded Use
The specific color 'Picton Blue' (#45b1e8) was named and standardized by the X11 color system, which emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While blue colors existed long before, this specific named shade is tied to digital color systems.
Cultural Associations
As a digital color, 'Picton Blue' is primarily recognized within computing and web design contexts. It's a bright, medium-light blue that evokes feelings of clarity, openness, and often, water or sky. It's not a color with deep historical cultural significance in art or fashion like 'Royal Blue' or 'Navy Blue', but rather a modern, digitally defined shade. Its association with Picton, New Zealand, lends it a sense of natural beauty and a connection to the Pacific.
Code Snippets
/* Background */
.element {
background-color: #45B1E8;
}
/* Text */
.element {
color: #45B1E8;
}
/* Border */
.element {
border: 1px solid #45B1E8;
}/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
background: linear-gradient(
to right,
#45B1E8,
#F8E3D8
);
}
/* Radial gradient */
.element {
background: radial-gradient(
circle,
#45B1E8,
#F8E3D8
);
}// SCSS variable
$picton-blue: #45B1E8;
// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$picton-blue-r: 69;
$picton-blue-g: 177;
$picton-blue-b: 232;
// Usage
.element {
background-color: $picton-blue;
color: rgba($picton-blue-r, $picton-blue-g, $picton-blue-b, 0.8);
}