#18BCD7 · #EC8974
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 2/100 (fail) · Harmony 100/100 (complementary) · Distinguishable 100/100 (easy to tell apart) · Match 0/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Cyan and Salmon are very different (ΔE 83). They have near-opposite hues (178° apart) and their lightness is different, giving a clear light/dark split.
Cyan text on Salmon: 1.10:1 (Fail); Salmon text on Cyan: 1.10:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #00414D clears it.
Complementary — complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 100/100). This is about how they look together (clothing, interiors, branding), independent of text contrast.
Not at body size — the best direction is only 1.1:1, below the 4.5:1 minimum. Nudging one colour to #00414D clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 83 — very different.
clearly different colours (ΔE 83).
Explore each color: Cyan #18BCD7 · Salmon #EC8974 · Shades: Cyan shades · Salmon shades · Contrast checker →