Pastel blue is a soft, pale shade of blue that is often used in interior design, fashion, and art. Unlike bold or bright blues, pastel blue has a muted, subtle appearance that can lend a calming feel to any space. Pastel blue encompasses a range of light blue hues that have had white added to tone down the vibrancy. But what exactly are the color numbers that correspond to the various pastel blue shades?
The Color Wheel and Pastel Blues
On the standard color wheel, blue is one of the three primary colors, along with red and yellow. Mixing blue with white creates a tinted blue or pastel blue shade. The more white that is added, the paler and softer the pastel blue becomes.
Pure hues of blue are located around the outer edge of the color wheel. As you move inward, the blue becomes progressively lighter and closer to white until it reaches the center of the wheel, which is pure white. So pastel blues are found in the inner part of the color wheel, between the pure blue hues on the outer edge and white in the middle.
RGB and Hex Codes
Colors used in digital formats like websites and computer programs are defined using RGB (red, green, blue) values. Each of the three color channels is given a numerical value from 0-255. These three numbers specify the amount of red, green, and blue that make up a particular color.
For example, pure blue is defined in RGB as R0, G0, B255. To create a pastel blue, the blue channel stays at 255 while the red and green channels are increased. Here are some common pastel blue RGB values:
| Baby Blue | R172, G216, B230 |
| Light Powder Blue | R176, G224, B230 |
| Pale Blue | R175, G238, B238 |
| Periwinkle Blue | R204, G204, B255 |
Hex codes are another way to represent digital colors using six digits from 0-9 and A-F. The first two digits represent the amount of red, the middle two are green, and the last two are blue. Some examples of pastel blue hex codes are:
| Baby Blue | #ACD6E6 |
| Columbia Blue | #B9D9EB |
| Cornflower Blue | #93CCEA |
| Light Blue | #ADD8E6 |
| Powder Blue | #B0E0E6 |
So when working with digital design programs or coding, these RGB and hex values can be used to generate specific shades of pastel blue.
CMYK Values
While RGB is used for onscreen colors, CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) is used for print design and physical pigments. Rather than mixing light like RGB, CMYK mixes pigments to absorb and reflect light.
The CMYK scale goes from 0-100% for each color channel. To make a pastel blue, you would use high percentages of cyan along with lower magenta, yellow, and black. Some examples of pastel blue CMYK values are:
| Baby Blue | C40, M0, Y0, K0 |
| Columbia Blue | C87, M24, Y0, K0 |
| Cornflower Blue | C74, M27, Y0, K0 |
| Light Blue | C42, M2, Y0, K0 |
| Periwinkle Blue | C49, M34, Y0, K0 |
These percentages can be used when mixing physical paints, dyes, or inks to produce soft pastel blue tones for any print application.
Pantone Colors
Pantone is a standardized color matching system used heavily in the design industry. Each Pantone color has an assigned number and name for easy consistency across materials and mediums. Pastel blue Pantone colors include:
| Baby Blue Eyes | Pantone 1225 C |
| Beau Blue | Pantone 1655 C |
| Blue Chill | Pantone 1415 C |
| Celestial Blue | Pantone 1417 C |
| Mystic Blue | Pantone 1463 C |
| Sky Blue | Pantone 1401 C |
The Pantone system allows for consistent color reproduction no matter the material, keeping pastel blues looking the same on everything from fabric to paint. This helps solve issues when colors appear different under various lighting conditions or on different substrates.
HSL and HSB Values
HSL (hue, saturation, lightness) and HSB (hue, saturation, brightness) are two other color models that define colors using properties other than their component mixtures.
For HSL, hue is expressed as a degree from 0-360 representing the position on the color wheel, saturation as a percentage of grayness, and lightness also as a percentage from black to white. Pastel blues have hues ranging from about 185-225 degrees, lower saturation percentages since they are soft colors, and lightness values around 80-95% to give that pale appearance.
HSB is similar but uses brightness instead of lightness. Pastel blues would have high brightness levels near 100% along with the mid-range hues and lower saturations.
Some sample HSL and HSB values for pastel blues:
| Baby Blue | H 220, S 50%, L 80% | H 220, S 50%, B 95% |
| Columbia Blue | H 195, S 25%, L 90% | H 195, S 25%, B 98% |
| Cornflower Blue | H 220, S 25%, L 85% | H 220, S 25%, B 92% |
| Periwinkle Blue | H 240, S 25%, L 85% | H 240, S 25%, B 90% |
These values provide alternate ways to define pastel blues that can be useful in coding applications and data visualizations.
Pastel Blue in Design and Decor
In interior design, pastel blue can create a variety of aesthetic effects depending on the specific shade used:
– Baby blue evokes innocence and youthfulness. It pairs well with warm woods and cream.
– Columbia blue has a clean, tranquil feeling. It complements white and gray schemes.
– Cornflower blue is sophisticated and feminine. It coordinates nicely with silver and floral accents.
– Powder blue has a vintage, shabby chic charm. It works beautifully in cottage or vintage spaces.
– Sky blue is universal, versatile, and calming. It mixes well with nearly any color palette.
Pastel blues also work nicely in fashion. Light powder blue is a staple in spring collections for its soft, cool vibe. Periwinkle blue flatters many complexions. Pale blue denim is a warm-weather essential. And robin’s egg blue is a preppy complement to whites and neutrals.
These soothing hues can even impact appetite, with research suggesting blue dishes may subtly suppress eating. So restaurants often utilize pale blues for decor and plateware.
Whether for visual appeal or psychological effects, pastel blues clearly have broad application across many industries. But finding the perfect pale blue shade starts with knowing its exact color values.
Matching Pastel Blues
When attempting to match an existing pastel blue, there are a few quick ways to determine its color values:
– Use a color identifier app or color picker tool to sample the color and provide the RGB, hex, and other data.
– Refer to online color charts that categorize and name various blue tones to find the closest match.
– Use a Pantone color wheel or swatch book to pinpoint the exact Pantone pastel blue shade.
– Purchase a color code reader device to instantly scan and identify the color’s specifications.
– Order affordable online color matching services where you submit a sample and receive a report with the color’s values across different models.
Matching the precise color and specifications enables consistency in reproducing that same pastel blue hue across any medium or material. This ensures that a brand color, for example, translates flawlessly from digital design to physical products.
Conclusion
Pastel blue encompasses a spectrum of soft, pale blue tones defined by specific color values. Digital formats use RGB and hex codes to produce these soothing hues on screens and devices. Print and pigment applications rely on CMYK builds and Pantone standards for pastel blue reproduction. And HSL, HSB, and other models offer alternate ways to characterize and quantify these ethereal colors. With so many blue variations to pick from, designers can find the perfect pastel to set the right aesthetic mood. Whether it’s decor, fashion, branding, or beyond, knowing the color numbers behind pastel blues grants the ability to consistently implement a beautiful, breezy blue palette.
