The text blue color code refers to the specific hexadecimal or RGB values that produce the blue color when used for text or font. Choosing the right shade of blue for text can be an important design consideration, as blue is often used for links, headlines, and emphasized text.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers about the text blue color code:
- The primary web text blue color code is #0000FF in hexadecimal or RGB(0,0,255). This is the bright basic blue.
- Darker blue text is often #00008B RGB(0,0,139) or navy blue.
- Lighter blue text may be #ADD8E6 RGB(173,216,230) or light blue.
- Blue text is commonly used for links, headlines, logos, and highlighting.
- Blue creates a sense of trust, security, and credibility in text.
Hexadecimal Text Blue Colors
Hexadecimal codes are one way to represent colors for digital design, using a 6 character string ranging 0-9 and A-F. Here are some common hexadecimal values for blue text colors:
| Hex Code | Color Name |
|---|---|
| #0000FF | Blue |
| #00008B | Dark Blue |
| #0000CD | Medium Blue |
| #000080 | Navy Blue |
| #191970 | Midnight Blue |
These represent a range of popular blue shades used for text – from very bright primary blue to very dark midnight blue.
RGB Text Blue Colors
RGB values are another way to define colors for digital design, using the Red, Green and Blue components on a 0-255 scale. Some common RGB values for blue text are:
| RGB Code | Color Name |
|---|---|
| RGB(0,0,255) | Blue |
| RGB(0,0,139) | Dark Blue |
| RGB(100,149,237) | Cornflower Blue |
| RGB(0,0,128) | Navy Blue |
| RGB(25,25,112) | Midnight Blue |
RGB values allow for millions of possible colors by mixing red, green and blue light.
Common Uses of Blue Text
Some common uses of blue text include:
- Hyperlinks – Hyperlinks on websites are traditionally blue to stand out on the page.
- Headlines – Blue is commonly used for article headlines and titles to grab attention.
- Emphasis – Applying blue color to key text can help emphasize important points.
- Quotes – Blue is sometimes used as the text color for block quotes.
- Logos and Branding – Many major tech companies and brands use blue in their logo text.
Different shades of blue may be selected depending on the desired effect – darker blues for professionalism, brighter blues for energy.
Blue Hyperlinks
Blue hyperlink text has been the standard since the early days of the internet and web design. Early browsers like Mosaic and Internet Explorer used blue as the default link color, a tradition that continues today. When users see blue text, they instantly recognize it as a clickable link.
Standard blue link text is defined as RGB(0,0,255) or #0000FF bright blue. This shade provides good contrast against black text on white backgrounds. On darker backgrounds, lighter shades like #33CCFF RGB(51,204,255) may be used.
Purple is sometimes used for links that have already been visited, and red for active links. But blue remains the quintessential hyperlink text color online.
Blue Headlines
Blue is commonly used in headlines for blogs, articles, adverts and more. Darker shades like navy blue add an authoritative, professional tone to headlines. Lighter tints like cornflower blue are energetic and inviting.
Serif fonts like Georgia or Times New Roman paired with subtle blues give a classic newspaper vibe. San-serif fonts like Verdana or Helvetica in bolder blues feels crisp and modern.
Adjusting the shade, font, size, and case (all caps or title case) allows designers to use blue headlines in diverse styles.
Using Blue for Emphasis
Applying blue as a text color is a simple way to emphasize important sentences, statistics, or terms in body copy. Since blue stands out, this selectively drawing attention to key ideas.
For example, a single blue sentence can highlight a critical takeaway in an otherwise black paragraph. Blue numbers can draw the eye to essential data being presented. The color immediately attracts reader focus.
This works for both online content and print design. Different shades like navy, sky blue, or turquoise can be chosen depending on the desired effect.
Psychology of Blue Text
It’s important to understand the psychology and perception behind color when choosing a shade for your text:
- Trust – Blue text conveys trust, security and authority. This makes it ideal for financial, medical, or government contexts.
- Professionalism – Dark blues like navy suggest professionalism, intelligence and stability.
- Friendly – Brighter blues create an upbeat, calming effect and seem more friendly.
- Clean – Blue has associations with the sky and water, evoking a clean and refreshing impression.
Blue text works well when you want your content or message to be perceived as honest, reliable, and professional. It sets the right tone for informative communication.
Blue Conveys Trust
Studies consistently show blue as the most trusted color. People see blue and associate it with qualities like security, trust, logic and stability. This makes blue a good choice for any content dealing with sensitive subjects.
Finance apps and banking websites often use blue text and icons to inspire user trust in transactions and security measures. Healthcare and medical companies also leverage blue to signal professional expertise and reliability.
Government agencies tend to use plenty of blue in flags, seals, and insignia to convey authoritativeness and vigilance. So blue text immediately evokes those connotations of trust and security for readers.
Blue Represents Professionalism
Dark blues like navy and midnight blue are linked to professionalism and intelligence. Think of the deep blues often used in uniforms, suits, or by technology companies.
Using a navy blue for report titles or section headers signals to readers that the content is authoritative and well-researched. Lighter blues can feel more informal or invitations by comparison.
Combining blues with classic fonts like serif typefaces amplifies the effect of professionalism in text. It establishes a formal and credible tone right from headings and titles alone.
Blue is Calming and Friendly
While dark blues convey professional expertise, lighter blues like sky blue and baby blue feel calming and friendly. Using soft blue text on welcoming pages, informational guides, or error messages makes the content feel more accessible.
Bright, cheerful blues counteract the potentially cold or distancing effect of straight black text. Blue creates an upbeat mood without sacrificing clarity and readability on the page.
For example, many FAQ pages use light blue text on white backgrounds to seem inviting to users who need help or have questions.
Examples of Blue Text in Use
Here are some real world examples of effective blue text from recognizable brands and publications:
Twitter uses a vibrant blue color (#1DA1F2 RGB(29,161,242)) for its logo text and branded elements. This bright blue is energetic and friendly while retaining a cool, tech-forward vibe.
The New York Times
The iconic newspaper uses a deep navy blue font for its headlines both digitally and in print. This conveys a classic sense of authority and professional journalism.
LinkedIn’s dark blue text (#0077B5 RGB(0,119,181) establishes a professional identity appropriate for career networking. The color choice matches their goals.
American Express
AmEx uses a bright, eye-catching blue (#002663 RGB(0,38,99)) for its credit card logo. The blue inspires trust and security when paying.
Samsung
Samsung uses a medium blue (#1428A0 RGB(20,40,160)) in its logo text, branding, and ads. The color reflects their technology leadership and innovation.
Tips for Using Blue Text
Here are some quick tips for working with blue text colors in your designs:
- Choose Appropriate Shades – Consider the impression you want to make. Brighter blues are energetic and friendly. Darker blues convey professionalism and authority.
- Ensure Sufficient Contrast – Make sure blue text contrasts well against the background color. Dark blue on white is very readable. Light blue text may get lost.
- Use White Space – Balance blue text with plenty of white space. Don’t overcrowd the page or content areas.
- Pair with Matching Colors – Complementary colors like yellow, white and green work well with different blue hues.
- Watch Text Size – Blue text is best at sizes 12px and above for accessibility. Don’t use light blues at very small sizes.
With the right shade and presentation, blue text can be eye-catching, professional, and complementary to all sorts of content and messages.
Conclusion
Blue continues to be a widely used text color for both digital interfaces and offline design. Different shades of blue allow designers to establish distinct tones ranging from authoritative navy to cheerful sky blue.
Understanding the hexadecimal codes, RGB values, psychology, and best practices for blue text allows great flexibility and options. Blue text conveys trust, security, friendliness, and intelligence depending on the exact hue and application.
Next time you design a website, presentation, poster, or other content, consider using some shade of blue text for headlines, hyperlinks, quotes, data, or calls to action. The color palette and connotations of blue make it endlessly versatile.