Red (NCS)

HEX: #C40233 | Modern Palette

On White
6.17:1
PASS
On Black
3.40:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#C40233
RGB
196, 2, 51
HSL
344°, 98% ,76%
CMYK
0, 98.98, 73.98, 23.14

About Red (NCS)

Red (NCS) (#C40233) is a color with RGB(196, 2, 51) and HSL(344.85°, 98.98%, 76.86%). It is commonly associated with Bold, Playful moods. In design, it fits Neon, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #02C493, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #33C402 and #0233C4. The name comes from Red (English).

  • HEX: #C40233
  • RGB: 196, 2, 51
  • HSL: 344.85°, 98.98%, 76.86%
  • Mood: Bold, Playful
  • Style: Neon, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #02C493
  • Triadic colors: #33C402, #0233C4
  • The name comes from Red (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #C40233 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold Playful
Style
Neon Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #707028
Protanopia #464635
Tritanopia #C30F0F
Achromatopsia #616161

Frequently Asked Questions

Red (NCS) (#C40233) is a color with RGB(196, 2, 51) and HSL(344.85°, 98.98%, 76.86%).

#C40233 pairs strongly with #02C493 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#C40233 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Neon, Warm styles.

#C40233 is commonly associated with Bold, Playful.

The name Red (NCS) is linked to Red from English, meaning A color, the lowest frequency of visible light, next to orange and opposite violet. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondary color (made from magenta and yellow) in the CMYK color model, and is complementary to cyan..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Red
Meaning A color, the lowest frequency of visible light, next to orange and opposite violet. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondary color (made from magenta and yellow) in the CMYK color model, and is complementary to cyan.
Language English
First Recorded Use Old English

History

The word 'red' comes from the Old English 'rēad', which itself derives from the Proto-Germanic '*raudaz' and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root '*h₁rewdʰ-' meaning 'red, ruddy'. This makes it cognate with words for red in many other Indo-European languages, such as Latin 'ruber', Greek 'erythros', Sanskrit 'rudhira', and Russian 'krasny'. Red has been one of the first colors to be named and used by humans, evident in prehistoric cave paintings. It is often associated with fire, blood, and strong emotions.

First Recorded Use

Before 7th century

Cultural Associations

In many Western cultures, red is associated with love, passion, anger, danger, and excitement. It is the color of Valentine's Day and often used for stop signs and warning signals. In China, red is a very auspicious color, symbolizing good fortune, happiness, and prosperity. It is widely used in celebrations, weddings, and the Chinese New Year. In India, red is associated with purity, fertility, love, and beauty, often worn by brides and used in religious ceremonies. In some African cultures, red can symbolize death or mourning, but also vitality and life. Politically, red has been associated with communism and socialism (e.g., the red flag). In heraldry, red (gules) signifies magnanimity, military strength, and warrior spirit.

Similar Named Colors
Crimson Glory #BE0032 ΔE 1.32
Vivid Crimson #CC0033 ΔE 1.73
Cardinal #C41E3A ΔE 1.74
Utah Crimson #D3003F ΔE 3.72

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #C40233;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #C40233;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #C40233;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #C40233,
        #8AFEE1
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #C40233,
        #8AFEE1
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$red-(ncs): #C40233;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$red-(ncs)-r: 196;
$red-(ncs)-g: 2;
$red-(ncs)-b: 51;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $red-(ncs);
    color: rgba($red-(ncs)-r, $red-(ncs)-g, $red-(ncs)-b, 0.8);
}