The color regency blue, also known as regency purple, is a shade that lies somewhere between blue and purple. Determining whether it is considered a blue or purple has been debated, as it possesses qualities of both colors. This article will examine the history of regency blue, its uses, and characteristics to help determine whether it should be classified as blue or purple.
Background on Regency Blue
Regency blue is a medium-dark tone of the color blue which was particularly popular during the British Regency era (1811-1820). It was one of the most fashionable colors of the time, frequently used in women’s clothing and interior design. The popularity of regency blue ultimately stemmed from the Prince Regent, later known as King George IV. His preference for the rich blue-purple tone made it a staple in regency style.
While regency blue takes its name from this specific time period, similar shades were also popular in 18th century France, where it was known as Harelle blue. Today, it is classified in a variety of ways – as a deep periwinkle, a dark lavender blue, a pale indigo, or occasionally a dark royal blue. This ambiguity in naming regency blue hints at the debate around whether it should be considered a blue or purple shade.
Characteristics of Regency Blue
So what defines the exact tone of regency blue? Here are some key characteristics and properties of this color:
- Hue – Regency blue is generally considered to have a hue between 240-260° on the color wheel. This positions it closer to blue and purple, rather than red or green.
- Hex code – The web color regency blue is defined as #7B68EE in hex code, comprising red, green, and blue values of R:123 G:104 B:238.
- RGB values – In the RGB color model, regency blue has high blue values, medium red values and low green values (R:123 G:104 B:238). This creates a bluish-purple tone.
- CMYK values – The CMYK values for regency blue are C:80% M:90% Y:0% K:7%. The high cyan and magenta with no yellow produces the cool, purple-blue color.
- Lightness/darkness – Regency blue has a lightness value of around 48% based on most color specifications. This makes it a moderately dark color.
- Uses – Commonly used for web design, regency blue is considered a calm, refined color. It has associations with nostalgia, romance, and spirituality.
Based on these technical details, regency blue clearly possesses both blue and purple characteristics. The higher blue RGB values yet presence of magenta gives it a blue-violet tone. But is it more blue or more purple?
Is Regency Blue Closer to Blue?
There are several factors that point towards regency blue being closer to a blue than strict purple:
- Hue angle – The hue of regency blue centers around 250°. This is much closer to the pure hue angle of blue at 240° than purple at 300°.
- Mixing colors – Regency blue can be created by mixing a greater proportion of blue with a smaller amount of purple. Starting with blue as the base gives it a stronger blue undertone.
- Historical usage – Being termed Harelle “blue” and used extensively in regency “blue” fashion indicates an association with blue more than purple.
- RGB balance – The higher R:123 blue value in the RGB code tips it towards blue rather than purple which has a higher R:B ratio.
- Perceived color – The overall perceived color to the human eye appears to be a light-medium vibrant blue.
These factors make a strong case for regency blue being considered more of a blue than purple. But the purple aspects also can’t be ignored entirely.
Regency Blue Also Exhibits Purple Traits
Despite the evidence for regency blue leaning towards blue, there are some compelling reasons why it contains noticeable purple elements as well:
- High magenta – The significant magenta/purple pigment used to create regency blue gives it a cooler, purple tint.
- Position on the color wheel – Regency blue falls between the blue and purple hues, exhibiting qualities of both.
- Names like “regency purple” – Some alternate names such as regency purple directly classify it as a purple tone.
- Similar to other purples – Regency blue closely resembles identified purples like periwinkle and deep lavender.
- Ambiguous categorization – Its frequent classification as both blue and purple emphasizes the hybrid color traits.
So while not a pure purple, regency blue certainly possesses enough purple qualities through its magenta tones and resemblance to other purples. This muddies the waters on whether it should be strictly categorized as blue or purple.
How Designers Classify Regency Blue
Given the debate around regency blue, how do professional designers tend to classify it? Here are a few examples:
- Pantone – Defines regency blue as PANTONE 19-3828 TPX, placing it under blue on the Pantone Matching System.
- Wikipedia – Labels it as a “medium tone of blue” in articles on the color regency blue.
- Designers – Often refer to regency blue as a “bluish purple” acknowledging both aspects.
- Home décor – Typically characterized as a “soft periwinkle blue” in home décor contexts.
So while acknowledging the purple tones, designers more commonly refer to regency blue primarily as a blue, sometimes specifying “bluish purple” or “blue-violet”. But it is still not always clearly distinguished from purple.
Comparison to Other Blue and Purple Shades
Comparing regency blue to unambiguous blues and purples can also help determine where it lies on the spectrum:
| Color | Hue | RGB Values |
|---|---|---|
| Navy blue | 240° | R:0 G:0 B:128 |
| Regency blue | 250° | R:123 G:104 B:238 |
| Royal purple | 275° | R:114 G:56 B:161 |
| Vivid violet | 280° | R:159 G:0 B:255 |
Compared to the darker navy blue, regency blue has more purple tones with higher R:B ratio. But it still appears closer to blue than the royal purple and vivid violet which have hue angles further from blue at 275-280°. This further supports regency blue being classified primarily as a blue.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while regency blue possesses both blue and purple qualities, the evidence suggests it should be categorized primarily as a shade of blue, albeit with strong purple undertones. Factors including its hue angle nearer to blue, higher blue RGB values, and use in historical “blue” contexts makes blue the most accurate classification. But with its sizable mixture of magenta/purple, regency blue occupies a unique midpoint position between blue and purple that contains identifiable attributes of both. Many designers acknowledge this duality by describing it as a “bluish purple” or “blue-violet” rather than just pure blue or purple. So while blue is the predominant color, regency blue’s blending of both colors gives it its unique and regal aesthetic.