Dark cyan and teal are two shades of blue-green that look similar but have some key differences. While they can sometimes be used interchangeably in design, they are not exactly the same color.
Defining Dark Cyan
Dark cyan is a deep, rich shade of cyan, which is a greenish-blue color. It sits between blue and green on the color wheel. The hexadecimal code for dark cyan is #008B8B.
On the RYB (red, yellow, blue) color model, cyan is made by mixing blue and green pigments. Dark cyan is created by adding more blue pigment, making it deeper and more saturated than regular cyan.
Dark cyan is considered a tertiary color, meaning it is made by combining a primary color (blue) with a secondary color (green). This mixing gives it visual vibrancy.
Defining Teal
Teal is also a blue-green color that sits between green and blue. However, it contains more green than cyan. The hexadecimal code for teal is #008080.
On the RYB color wheel, teal is made by mixing more green into blue, compared to cyan which has more blue. This gives teal a slightly yellowish-green tint.
Like dark cyan, teal is a tertiary color as it combines the primary color blue and secondary color green. However, the proportion of green is higher, making it visually distinct from cyan.
Comparing Dark Cyan and Teal
While dark cyan and teal are similar, looking closely reveals some important differences:
| Dark Cyan | Teal |
|---|---|
| More blue pigment | More green pigment |
| Deeper, richer shade | Brighter, more yellow-green |
| Hex code #008B8B | Hex code #008080 |
As shown in the table, dark cyan contains more blue compared to teal. This gives it a deeper, jewel-like tone. Teal has more green with hints of yellow, making it brighter and slightly lime-ish.
Looking at their hex codes also shows teal has equal amounts of green and blue (00), while dark cyan has slightly more blue (8B vs. 80).
How the Colors Are Used
Given their similar but distinct appearances, dark cyan and teal lend themselves to different uses:
- Dark cyan – Used when a richer, darker blue-green is desired. Works well for backgrounds, banners, accents. Conveys depth, trust, professionalism.
- Teal – With its vibrancy, teal pops against darker shades. Commonly used for call-to-action buttons, headlines, accessories. Evokes renewal, clarity, sophistication.
Both colors have appeal in design and marketing. Dark cyan feels bold and grounded, while teal is energetic and engaging. Often they are combined in complementary ways.
Examples in Nature
As tertiary colors, neither dark cyan nor teal are often found purely in nature. However, there are examples of fauna and flora that come close:
- Dark Cyan – Concord grapes, blueberries, juniper berries, blue-green algae. Appears in deeper water of oceans and lakes.
- Teal – Peacock feathers, some tree frogs. Also found in waters such as tropical lagoons.
These natural examples showcase the more saturated blue-green essence of both colors. Interestingly, while not seen as much in plants, the colors emerge in the animal kingdom.
Cultural and Historical Use
While teal and dark cyan are modern colors, cultural history provides some interesting connections:
- Ancient Egyptians used ground malachite, a mineral with a deep cyan hue, for eye makeup and decoration.
- The vibrant feathers of peacocks, related to teal, were prominent in Chinese, Indian and Persian art.
- Cerulean, linking to cyan, was used in Medieval and Renaissance art depicting nature, the Virgin Mary, and more.
- Turquoise gemstones, connecting to teal, had ceremonial and decorative importance for Aztecs and other Mesoamerican cultures.
These examples show how versions of cyan and teal carried symbolic meaning in early cultures. They were associated with adornment, nature, spirituality, and status.
Using Dark Cyan and Teal Together
With their complementary natures, dark cyan and teal combine beautifully:
- Light teal text on a dark cyan background pops while retaining sophistication.
- Borders or graphical accents in teal add vibrancy when paired with dark cyan backgrounds.
- Gradients blending dark cyan into teal create a visually striking transition.
Blending the two shades creates contrast and depth. It allows designers and marketers to harness the strengths of both colors in aesthetically pleasing ways.
Conclusion
In summary, while dark cyan and teal have similarities, they are distinct shades:
- Dark cyan is a deeper, blue-dominant cyan.
- Teal contains more green with a yellowish tint.
- Dark cyan has a bold, jewel-like vibe; teal is bright and energetic.
- Each has its own applications, but work beautifully together.
So while they may sometimes stand in for one another, dark cyan and teal are not interchangeable. Their unique personalities give designers and artists two useful options to harness the cyan color family.