Maya Blue
HEX: #73C2FB | Modern Palette
Color Specifications
#73C2FB
115, 194, 251
205°, 54% ,98%
54.18, 22.71, 0, 1.57
About Maya Blue
Maya Blue (#73C2FB) is a color with RGB(115, 194, 251) and HSL(205.15°, 54.18%, 98.43%). In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Background. Its complementary color is #FBAC73, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #FB73C2 and #C2FB73. The name comes from tlaquimilolli (for pigment bundles), or specific names for the plant/clay components (Nahuatl (likely)).
- HEX: #73C2FB
- RGB: 115, 194, 251
- HSL: 205.15°, 54.18%, 98.43%
- Style: Cool
- Use case: Text, Button, Background
- Complementary color: #FBAC73
- Triadic colors: #FB73C2, #C2FB73
- The name comes from tlaquimilolli (for pigment bundles), or specific names for the plant/clay components (Nahuatl (likely)).
Live Components
Color Palettes
Maya Blue #73C2FB is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.
Color Harmonies
Maya Blue #73C2FB pairs with #FBAC73 as its complementary color, and #FB73C2 and #C2FB73 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.
Color Characteristics
Accessibility Simulation
#B0B0FC
#BBBBFB
#5FCACA
#BABABA
Frequently Asked Questions
Name, History & Etymology
History
Maya Blue is a unique and remarkably durable pigment developed by the Maya civilization and other Mesoamerican cultures. Its vibrant turquoise hue remained stable for centuries, even in harsh tropical environments, resisting acids, alkalis, weathering, and biodegradation. The pigment is a nanocomposite material, a complex of indigo dye (derived from the *Indigofera suffruticosa* plant) and palygorskite clay. The exact method of its creation was a lost art for centuries until modern scientific analysis revealed its components and likely production process, which involved heating the indigo and palygorskite mixture. It was widely used in murals, pottery, codices, and even for ritualistic purposes, such as painting sacrificial victims.
First Recorded Use
Around 300 AD, possibly earlier (Late Preclassic)
Cultural Associations
Maya Blue held significant cultural and religious importance. Its use in murals depicted deities, rulers, and historical events, adorning temples and palaces. Its presence on sacrificial victims, particularly during rituals involving human sacrifice, suggests a profound symbolic connection to water, fertility, and the underworld. The color itself may have been associated with rain gods, such as Chaac, and other celestial or aquatic deities. Its exceptional durability allowed Maya art and symbolism to endure for millennia, providing invaluable insights into their worldview.
Code Snippets
/* Background */
.element {
background-color: #73C2FB;
}
/* Text */
.element {
color: #73C2FB;
}
/* Border */
.element {
border: 1px solid #73C2FB;
}/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
background: linear-gradient(
to right,
#73C2FB,
#FDFBF9
);
}
/* Radial gradient */
.element {
background: radial-gradient(
circle,
#73C2FB,
#FDFBF9
);
}// SCSS variable
$maya-blue: #73C2FB;
// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$maya-blue-r: 115;
$maya-blue-g: 194;
$maya-blue-b: 251;
// Usage
.element {
background-color: $maya-blue;
color: rgba($maya-blue-r, $maya-blue-g, $maya-blue-b, 0.8);
}