#9DB5E1 · #DDA4A0
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 0/100 (fail) · Harmony 98/100 (split-complementary) · Distinguishable 83/100 (easy to tell apart) · Match 13/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Heather and Light Red are very different (ΔE 40). They have distinctly different hues (145° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Heather text on Light Red: 1.02:1 (Fail); Light Red text on Heather: 1.02:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #31456B clears it.
Split-complementary — split-complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 98/100). 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 #31456B clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 40 — very different.
clearly different colours (ΔE 40).
Explore each color: Heather #9DB5E1 · Light Red #DDA4A0 · Shades: Heather shades · Light Red shades · Contrast checker →