Non-photo Blue
HEX: #A4DDED | Modern Palette
Color Specifications
#A4DDED
164, 221, 237
193°, 67% ,78%
31, 7, 0, 7
About Non-photo Blue
Non-photo Blue (#A4DDED) is a color with RGB(164, 221, 237) and HSL(193.2°, 67%, 78.6%). It is commonly associated with Playful moods. In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #EDB4A4, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #EDA4DD and #DDEDA4. The name comes from Non-photo Blue (English).
- HEX: #A4DDED
- RGB: 164, 221, 237
- HSL: 193.2°, 67%, 78.6%
- Mood: Playful
- Style: Cool
- Use case: Text, Button, Accent
- Complementary color: #EDB4A4
- Triadic colors: #EDA4DD, #DDEDA4
- The name comes from Non-photo Blue (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 #A4DDED from deepest shade to lightest tint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Name, History & Etymology
History
Non-photo blue, also known as non-repro blue, is a specific shade of blue that was developed for use in the graphic arts and printing industries. Its primary characteristic is that it is invisible to orthochromatic film, which was commonly used in early photographic processes for reproduction. This allowed artists and designers to sketch or make notes directly on their artwork using a non-photo blue pencil or pen, and these marks would not appear in the final photographic negative or printed output. As technology advanced, particularly with the advent of digital scanning and photocopying, the original orthochromatic film became less prevalent. However, many modern scanners and photocopiers still have difficulty accurately reproducing this specific shade of blue, often rendering it very faintly or not at all, depending on their sensitivity settings. This makes it still useful in some contexts for preliminary sketching or annotations that are not intended for final reproduction.
First Recorded Use
Circa 1930s-1940s (widespread commercial use)
Cultural Associations
Non-photo blue holds a significant place in the history of graphic design, illustration, and comic book art. Many professional artists from the mid-20th century onwards relied heavily on non-photo blue pencils for their initial layouts and rough sketches before inking their final lines. It became an essential tool in the workflow of comic artists, animators, and technical illustrators. While its practical necessity has diminished with digital tools, it remains a nostalgic and recognizable color for many in these fields, symbolizing the traditional methods of art creation. Some digital art software even includes a 'non-photo blue' layer or brush option to mimic this traditional workflow.
Code Snippets
/* Background */
.element {
background-color: #A4DDED;
}
/* Text */
.element {
color: #A4DDED;
}
/* Border */
.element {
border: 1px solid #A4DDED;
}/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
background: linear-gradient(
to right,
#A4DDED,
#EDB4A4
);
}
/* Radial gradient */
.element {
background: radial-gradient(
circle,
#A4DDED,
#EDB4A4
);
}// SCSS variable
$non-photo-blue: #A4DDED;
// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$non-photo-blue-r: 164;
$non-photo-blue-g: 221;
$non-photo-blue-b: 237;
// Usage
.element {
background-color: $non-photo-blue;
color: rgba($non-photo-blue-r, $non-photo-blue-g, $non-photo-blue-b, 0.8);
}