Using Azure in Your Design Project

By
Jacci Howard Bear
Writer
A graphic designer, writer, and artist who writes about and teaches print and web design.
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Jacci Howard Bear
Updated December 05, 2019

Azure is a light shade of blue that falls in the color wheel between blue and cyan. However, while it is a blue color, and is sometimes described as the color of a bright clear sky, beneath it lies a sea of shades of azure.

Usually described as being halfway between cyan and blue, the color ranges from so pale as to be almost white, to a rich, dark blue. Some sources describe azure as having a slightly purple tone to it.

The word itself comes from the Persian lazhward, which was the name of a place known for its blue stones. It's said to represent Jupiter and is known as a stable and calming color that just about everyone likes. It evokes nature, stability, calmness, and richness, among other aspects of blue symbolism.

Some variations of azure include baby blue, maya blue, Columbia blue, cornflower blue, vista blue, cerulean, picton blue, and traditional royal blue. Organized tone charts show how these colors compare to other azure colors.

Various azure color swatches
Lifewire / Hilary Allison

Using Azure Color in Design Files

When planning a design project that will end up at a commercial printing company, use CMYK formulations for azure in your page layout software or select a Pantone spot color. For display on a computer monitor, use RGB values. You need Hex designations when working with HTML, CSS, and SVG.

Azure shades are best achieved with the following:

  • Azure: Hex #007fff | RGB 0,127,255 | CMYK 100,50,0,0
  • Pale Azure: Hex #f0ffff | RGB 240,255,255 | CMYK 6,0,0,0
  • Medium Azure | Hex #4B92DB | RGB 75,146,219 | CMYK 66,33,0,14
  • Royal Azure: Hex #003fff | RGB 0,63,255 | CMYK 100,75,0,0
  • Dark Azure: Hex #003399 | RGB 0,51,153 | CMYK 100, 67,0,40

Choosing Pantone Colors Closest to Azure

When working with printed pieces, sometimes a solid color azure, rather than a CMYK mix, is a more economical choice. The Pantone Matching System is the most widely recognized spot color system.

Here are the Pantone colors suggested as best matches to azure color:

  • Azure: Pantone Solid Coated 2130 C
  • Pale Azure: Pantone Solid Coated 7541 C
  • Medium Azure: Pantone Solid Coated 2129 C
  • Royal Azure: Pantone Solid Coated 2097 C
  • Dark Azure: Pantone Solid Coated 2370 C