Discover cyan color meaning, HEX code #00FFFF, RGB values, and cultural symbolism. Learn about cyan's role in CMYK printing, design psychology, and wavelength science (490-520 nm).
HEX: #00FFFF RGB: (0, 255, 255) HSL: (180°, 100%, 50%) CMYK: (100%, 0%, 0%, 0%)
Wavelength: 490-520 nm Frequency: ~600-575 THz Color Temperature: Cool Complementary: Red (#FF0000)
Cyan color meaning: Cyan is a bright blue-green color positioned between blue and green in the visible light spectrum, with a wavelength range of 490-520 nanometers. The name "cyan" derives from the Greek word "kyanos," meaning dark blue.
In color science, cyan represents the perfect balance between blue and green light frequencies, creating a cool, refreshing hue that appears naturally in tropical waters, clear skies, and certain gemstones like turquoise.
Cyan symbolism encompasses peace, tranquility, balance, and creativity across cultures. This cool color psychology triggers feelings of calmness while stimulating mental clarity and innovative thinking.
In design psychology, cyan creates an atmosphere of openness and accessibility. It's particularly effective for:
Cyan appears naturally in various forms throughout our environment, from the depths of tropical oceans to the brilliant plumage of exotic birds.
Pure Cyan
#00FFFF
Turquoise
#40E0D0
Dark Cyan
#008B8B
Aquamarine
#7FFFD4
While both are blue-green colors, cyan (#00FFFF) is a pure, bright blue-green with equal amounts of blue and green light. Turquoise (#40E0D0) is slightly more green-leaning and less saturated, often associated with the gemstone of the same name.
In RGB color model: Cyan is created by combining maximum green (255) and blue (255) with no red (0), resulting in RGB(0, 255, 255). In CMYK printing: Cyan is a primary color represented as C:100%, M:0%, Y:0%, K:0%.
Cyan pairs beautifully with its complementary color red for high contrast. It also works well with coral, orange, white, gray, and other cool colors like purple and blue. For monochromatic schemes, use different shades of cyan like teal and aquamarine.
Cyan is one of the four primary colors in CMYK printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). It's essential for creating a full spectrum of colors in print media, as it cannot be created by mixing other printing inks and serves as a foundation for producing greens, blues, and purples.