#009AAC · #3A91C6
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 1/100 (fail) · Harmony 89/100 (analogous) · Distinguishable 22/100 (hard to tell apart) · Match 46/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Dark Vivid Cyan and Steel Blue are a clear pair (ΔE 24). They have closely related hues (16° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Dark Vivid Cyan text on Steel Blue: 1.03:1 (Fail); Steel Blue text on Dark Vivid Cyan: 1.03:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #00282E clears it.
Analogous — analogous — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 89/100). 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 #00282E clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 24 — a clear pair.
clearly different colours (ΔE 24).
Explore each color: Dark Vivid Cyan #009AAC · Steel Blue #3A91C6 · Shades: Dark Vivid Cyan shades · Steel Blue shades · Contrast checker →