Electric blue (color)

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.

For other uses, see Electric blue.
Electric blue
 
    Color coordinates
Hex triplet#7DF9FF
HSV       (h, s, v)(183°, 51%, 100%)
sRGBB  (r, g, b)(125, 249, 255)
Source[Unsourced]
ISCC–NBS descriptorBrilliant bluish green
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)
H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

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)
 
    Color coordinates
Hex triplet#2C75FF
HSV       (h, s, v)(220°, 100%, 59%)
sRGBB  (r, g, b)(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
 
    Color coordinates
Hex triplet#3137FD
HSV       (h, s, v)(238°, 80.6%, 99%)
sRGBB  (r, g, b)(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
 
    Color coordinates
Hex triplet#035096
HSV       (h, s, v)(209°, 98%, 59%)
sRGBB  (r, g, b)(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 matches the color of the color sample (taken from a textile sample)[5][6] of the original called electric blue that "had an immense vogue in the latter 19th century".[7]

Still today, this tone of electric blue is a typical contemporary "electric blue" fabric color that is used in manufacturing for the mass market.

Dark electric blue
Dark Electric Blue
 
    Color coordinates
Hex triplet#536878
HSV       (h, s, v)(206°, 31%, 47%)
sRGBB  (r, g, b)(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]

Panelology

In a 1998 retelling of the original 1963 story of Superman Red/Superman Blue, Superman is temporarily deprived of the solar energy needed to provide the energy his body required to give him powers and Superman develops electricity-based abilities,[10] which eventually forces him to adopt a blue and white containment suit to prevent the energy from dispersing. While retaining most of his abilities, he could now also generate electric attacks rather than his original heat-vision. This version of Superman was referred to by some comic book fans 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

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, Color Sample of Electric Blue [fabric 1890s]: Page 97 Plate 37 Color Sample I7
  6. 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
  7. Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill, p.156 Discussion of the color Electric Blue
  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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