Non-photo blue
A pale blue used in art and print that does not show up in reproduction
Non-photo blue is a very light greenish blue used in graphic design and printing. Its main feature is that it is not detected by graphic arts camera film, letting artists and editors make notes or sketches that will not appear in the final printed work.
Share on WhatsAppOpen in the lab
- Does not show up on graphic arts camera film
- Lets artists sketch without erasing before inking
- Used for notes and layouts in print and design
- Can be removed digitally by adjusting scanner settings
What colour is Non-photo blue?
Non-photo blue is a very light shade of blue, sometimes called non-repro blue. It is used mainly as a working tool in art and print, not as a finished colour. Its special property is that it does not show up when photographed with graphic arts camera film, making it useful for notes and underdrawings that should not appear in the final print.
Where does Non-photo blue come from?
The name 'non-photo blue' comes from its main use: it is a blue that does not appear in photographic reproduction processes used in graphic design and printing. The colour was chosen for its ability to be invisible to certain types of film, helping editors and artists work more easily. It is also known as non-repro blue for the same reason.
How Non-photo blue is defined
Non-photo blue is defined by its colour value, not by a particular pigment or material. It is usually produced in pencils or pens for artists and editors. The colour is chosen so that it is not picked up by graphic arts camera film, and in digital workflows, its lightness allows it to be removed by adjusting scanner settings or image editing software.
Where Non-photo blue is used
Artists use non-photo blue pencils or pens to sketch outlines or make notes on artwork that will be inked and reproduced. In printing, editors mark up layouts with this blue so that their notes do not appear in the final printed piece. In digital work, the blue lines can be removed by adjusting scanner settings or image channels, letting the inked lines remain.
Blue around the world
What the blue family means from country to country.
Lapis lazuli has been mined in the mountains of Badakhshan for more than six thousand years. Ground to powder it gave ultramarine, the costliest blue in European painting.
Royalty and powerSacred and holyAweSource: Lapis lazuliThe chadari is a full-length covering for women with a mesh panel over the eyes. In Kabul and the north it is most often a light blue.
Protection and healingSource: BurqaThe blue band of the flag stands for the wish of the Armenian people to live under peaceful skies. The red above it is for the highlands and the struggle to survive.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is sky blue, white and sky blue, created by Manuel Belgrano in 1812. National teams are called the Albiceleste, the white and sky blue.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of ArgentinaBoca Juniors play in blue and gold. The club's story is that in 1907 it took the colours of the flag of the next ship into port, which was Swedish.
Festival and celebrationPrideSource: Boca JuniorsTo be true blue is to be honestly and loyally Australian. The phrase is older than the country, but Australians have made it their own.
Politics and protestTrustSource: True Blue (John Williamson song)Shades and relatives of Non-photo blue
Non-photo blue is a specific pale blue, but may be confused with other light blue pencils or inks. Its main difference is its invisibility to certain reproduction methods, not just its shade. It is sometimes compared with blue pencil, which is used for editing but may not be invisible in reproduction.
Colours that go with Non-photo blue
Harmonies are worked out from the value #A4DDED. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Non-photo blue
What colour is non-photo blue?
Non-photo blue is a very light greenish blue, chosen so that it does not show up in photographic reproduction used in graphic design and printing.
Why is it called non-photo blue?
It is called non-photo blue because it cannot be detected by graphic arts camera film, so marks made with it do not appear in the final printed image.
How is non-photo blue used?
Artists and editors use non-photo blue pencils or pens to make sketches or notes that will not show up in the final print, letting them work without having to erase these marks.
Can non-photo blue be removed digitally?
Yes, when scanned, the blue lines can be removed by changing the image to greyscale and adjusting contrast or by replacing the blue channel, so only the inked lines remain.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Non-photo blue", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More of the blue family
All of blue
#0000FF
Blue
A primary colour seen in the sky and sea, used since ancient times in art and dyeBasic colour
#6A5DFF
Indigo
A deep blue named for the dye once exported from IndiaNamed shade 路 馃嚠馃嚦 India +5
#120A8F
Ultramarine
A deep blue pigment once made from lapis lazuli, prized for centuries in artPigment 路 馃嚘馃嚝 Afghanistan +2
#007FFF
Azure
A clear sky blue, halfway between blue and cyan on the colour wheelNamed shade 路 馃嚠馃嚬 Italy +2
#87CEEB
Sky blue
A light blue named for the colour of a clear daytime skyNamed shade 路 馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina +5
#0047AB
Cobalt blue
A strong, stable blue pigment made from cobalt and alumina since the early 1800sPigment 路 馃嚝馃嚪 France +3
#000080
Navy blue
A deep blue shade named for the uniforms of the Royal NavyNamed shade 路 馃嚭馃嚫 United States +2
#007BA7
Cerulean
A blue-green colour once made from cobalt stannate and linked with the skyNamed shade 路 馃嚞馃嚙 United Kingdom