#DCE9E9 · #ECE5DC
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 0/100 (fail) · Harmony 99/100 (split-complementary) · Distinguishable 34/100 (hard to tell apart) · Match 81/100 (close). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Carefree and Parchment are very close (ΔE 8). They have distinctly different hues (146° apart) and their lightness is similar, so they read as two same-weight colours.
Carefree text on Parchment: 1.00:1 (Fail); Parchment text on Carefree: 1.00:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #5E696A clears it.
Split-complementary — split-complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 99/100). 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 #5E696A clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 8 — very close.
close but visibly different (ΔE 8.5).
Explore each color: Carefree #DCE9E9 · Parchment #ECE5DC · Shades: Carefree shades · Parchment shades · Contrast checker →