Lava

HEX: #CF1020 | Modern Palette

On White
5.60:1
PASS
On Black
3.75:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#CF1020
RGB
207, 16, 32
HSL
355°, 85% ,43%
CMYK
0, 92, 85, 19

About Lava

Lava (#CF1020) is a color with RGB(207, 16, 32) and HSL(355°, 85.7%, 43.7%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #10CFBF, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #20CF10 and #1020CF. The name comes from lava (Italian).

  • HEX: #CF1020
  • RGB: 207, 16, 32
  • HSL: 355°, 85.7%, 43.7%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #10CFBF
  • Triadic colors: #20CF10, #1020CF
  • The name comes from lava (Italian).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Lava #CF1020 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

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

Color Harmonies

Lava #CF1020 pairs with #10CFBF as its complementary color, and #20CF10 and #1020CF in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

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

LAVA
Analogous

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

LAVA
Triadic

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

LAVA
Split-Complementary

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

LAVA
Tetradic (Square)

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

LAVA
Monochromatic

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

LAVA

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Lava #CF1020 moves from dark #180204 tones through the base color to lighter #FDE7E9 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

LAVA

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #777703
Protanopia #4C4C23
Tritanopia #CF1313
Achromatopsia #686868

Frequently Asked Questions

Lava (#CF1020) is a color with RGB(207, 16, 32) and HSL(355°, 85.7%, 43.7%).

#CF1020 pairs strongly with #10CFBF as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#CF1020 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#CF1020 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Lava is linked to lava from Italian, meaning a torrent, a 'wash' of water (often after rain).

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word lava
Meaning a torrent, a 'wash' of water (often after rain)
Language Italian
First Recorded Use Late 17th Century

History

The word 'lava' was adopted into English from Italian. Its original Italian meaning referred to a 'wash' or 'torrent' of water, often after heavy rain, flowing down a mountainside. This meaning was then applied by analogy to the molten rock flowing from volcanoes, likely due to the similar visual phenomenon of a fluid mass moving down a slope. The earliest recorded use in English specifically referring to volcanic material dates to the 1690s, following observations of eruptions, particularly from Mount Vesuvius and Etna.

First Recorded Use

1690s (English)

Cultural Associations

Lava is a powerful symbol in many cultures, representing creation and destruction, fertility and danger. Volcanic regions often have rich mythologies associated with lava flows, sometimes seen as the breath of gods or the tears of giants. In modern culture, 'lava' is widely recognized and used in metaphors for intense heat, unstoppable force, or a dangerous, flowing substance (e.g., 'lava lamp', 'the floor is lava' game). Its distinctive color (#cf1020, a deep reddish-orange) is often associated with danger, heat, and volcanic activity.

Similar Named Colors
Fire Engine Red #CE2029 ΔE 1.62
Harvard Crimson #C90016 ΔE 2.16
Venetian Red #C80815 ΔE 2.42
Amaranth Red #D3212D ΔE 2.65

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #CF1020;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #CF1020;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #CF1020;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #CF1020,
        #10CFBF
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #CF1020,
        #10CFBF
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$lava: #CF1020;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$lava-r: 207;
$lava-g: 16;
$lava-b: 32;

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