Electric blue (color)

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Electric blue
 
A-Tube.jpg
About these coordinates     Color coordinates
Hex triplet#7DF9FF
HSV       (h, s, v)(183°, 51%, 100%)
sRGBB  (rgb)(125, 249, 255)
Source[Unsourced]
ISCC–NBS descriptorBrilliant bluish green
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)
H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

Electric blue is a color whose definition varies but is often considered close to cyan, and which is a representation of the color of lightning, an electric spark, and the color of ionized argon gas; it was originally named after the ionized air glow produced during electrical discharges, though its meaning has broadened to include shades of blue that are metaphorically "electric" by virtue of being "intense" or particularly "vibrant". Electric arcs can cause a variety of color emissions depending on the gases involved, but blue and purple are typical colors produced in the troposphere where oxygen and nitrogen dominate.

The first recorded use of electric blue as a color name in English was in 1845.[1][2] The color electric blue (the version shown below as medium electric blue) was in vogue in the 1890s.[3]

Variations of electric blue[]

Deep electric blue (French electric blue)[]

Electric Blue (Pourpre.com)
 
About these coordinates     Color coordinates
Hex triplet#2C75FF
HSV       (h, s, v)(220°, 100%, 59%)
sRGBB  (rgb)(44, 117, 255)
SourcePourpre.com
ISCC–NBS descriptorVivid blue
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The deep tone of electric blue displayed at right is the color called bleu électrique in the Pourpre.com color list, a color list widely popular in France.

Iridescent electric blue[]

Iridescent electric blue
 
About these coordinates     Color coordinates
Hex triplet#3137FD
HSV       (h, s, v)(238°, 80.6%, 99%)
sRGBB  (rgb)(49, 55, 253)
Sourcewww.art-paints.com
ISCC–NBS descriptorVivid blue
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

This shade of electric blue reflects the kind which is only metaphorically "electric". Its iridescence is also metaphoric.

Medium electric blue[]

Medium Electric Blue
 
About these coordinates     Color coordinates
Hex triplet#035096
HSV       (h, s, v)(209°, 98%, 59%)
sRGBB  (rgb)(3, 80, 150)
SourceMaerz and Paul[4]
ISCC–NBS descriptorDeep blue
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The color displayed at right, titled medium electric blue, is the electric blue which "had an immense vogue in the latter 19th century".[5] Its source is a textile sample from the 1890s.[6][7]

Today, this tone remains typical of "electric blue" fabrics in the mass market.

Dark electric blue[]

Dark Electric Blue
 
About these coordinates     Color coordinates
Hex triplet#536878
HSV       (h, s, v)(206°, 31%, 47%)
sRGBB  (rgb)(83, 104, 120)
SourceISCC-NBS
ISCC–NBS descriptorGrayish blue
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)
H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

Dark electric blue is a dark cyan color that is the color called electric blue in the ISCC-NBS color list.

Source of the color dark electric blue:[8]

In nature[]

Crustaceans[]

The electric blue crayfish is a species of freshwater crayfish endemic to Florida.

Reptiles[]

The electric blue gecko was first discovered by biologist William in the 1950s.

In culture[]

Astrology[]

The color electric blue is associated with the astrological sign of Aquarius.[9]

Literature[]

Miss. Hunter, in the Sherlock Holmes' story 'The Adventure of the Copper Beeches', was required to wear an electric blue dress. It first published in the UK in The Strand Magazine, in June 1892,

Panelology[]

In a 1998 retelling of the original 1963 story of Superman Red/Superman Blue, Superman is temporarily deprived of the solar energy which his body needs. To compensate, he harnesses electricity.[10] This eventually forces him to adopt a blue and white suit to prevent the energy from dispersing. He retained most of his abilities but lost his heat-vision and used electric attacks instead. Some fans refer to this version of Superman as "Electric Blue Superman".[11]

Music[]

David Bowie's song "Sound and Vision" references the color in the third verse,

   Blue, blue, electric blue
   That's the color of my room
   Where I will live
   Blue, blue

See also[]

  • List of colors
  • Electric indigo

References[]

  1. ^ Joseph Hall Wright (1845). Ocean-work, Ancient and Modern: Or, Evenings on Sea and Land. D. Appleton. p. 163. electric blue.
  2. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill, p.194; Color Sample of Electric Blue [fabric 1890s]: Page 97 Plate 37 Color Sample I7
  3. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Discussion of color Electric Blue, p. 156
  4. ^ The color displayed in the color box above matches the color called electric blue in the 1930 book by Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill; the color electric blue is displayed on page 97, Plate 37, Color Sample I7.
  5. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill, p.156 Discussion of the color Electric Blue
  6. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill, Color Sample of Electric Blue [fabric 1890s]: Page 97 Plate 37 Color Sample I7
  7. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill, p.194 Name of the color "electric blue" in the index is marked with a "T", which means it is from a textile sample
  8. ^ http://tx4.us/nbs/nbs-e.htm Archived 2012-11-22 at the Wayback Machine ISCC-NBS Dictionary of Color Names (1955)--Color Sample of electric blue (color sample #186):
  9. ^ Parker, Derek and Julia Aquarius (Part of the Planetary Zodiac Library) New York:1972 A Mitchell Beazley/Ballantine Book Page 14
  10. ^ Superman (vol. 2) #122 (April 1997)
  11. ^ "Electric Blue Superman???". forums.comicbookresources.com. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
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