Ash vs Esplanade — Difference, Contrast & Harmony

Ashnearest vs Esplanadeexact

#A2CBC7 · #D5BDA4

Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 0/100 (fail) · Harmony 96/100 (split-complementary) · Distinguishable 69/100 (somewhat similar) · Match 42/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.

Readability0Fail

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Fail1.0:1

Harmony96Split-complementary

Split-complementary

144° apart

Distinguishable69Somewhat similar

normal

colorblind

ΔE 26

Match42Different

ΔE 26 — different

How different are Ash and Esplanade?

Ash and Esplanade are a clear pair (ΔE 26). They have distinctly different hues (144° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.

Can you read one on the other?

Ash text on Esplanade: 1.02:1 (Fail); Esplanade text on Ash: 1.02:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #315653 clears it.

Common questions

Do Ash and Esplanade go well together?

Split-complementary — split-complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 96/100). This is about how they look together (clothing, interiors, branding), independent of text contrast.

Is Ash readable as text on Esplanade?

Not at body size — the best direction is only 1.0:1, below the 4.5:1 minimum. Nudging one colour to #315653 clears AA.

What is the colour difference (ΔE) between Ash and Esplanade?

Their CIE76 ΔE is about 26 — a clear pair.

Are Ash and Esplanade the same colour?

clearly different colours (ΔE 26).

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