Vermilion

HEX: #D9381E | Modern Palette

On White
4.63:1
PASS
On Black
4.53:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#D9381E
RGB
217, 56, 30
HSL
8°, 86% ,85%
CMYK
0, 74.19, 86.18, 14.9

About Vermilion

Vermilion (#D9381E) is a color with RGB(217, 56, 30) and HSL(8.34°, 86.18%, 85.1%). It is commonly associated with Playful moods. In design, it fits Neon, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Background. Its complementary color is #1EBFD9, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #1ED938 and #381ED9. The name comes from vermiculus (Latin).

  • HEX: #D9381E
  • RGB: 217, 56, 30
  • HSL: 8.34°, 86.18%, 85.1%
  • Mood: Playful
  • Style: Neon, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Background
  • Complementary color: #1EBFD9
  • Triadic colors: #1ED938, #381ED9
  • The name comes from vermiculus (Latin).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Vermilion #D9381E 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.
 
 
VERMILION
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
VERMILION
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
VERMILION
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Vermilion #D9381E pairs with #1EBFD9 as its complementary color, and #1ED938 and #381ED9 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.

VERMILION
Analogous

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

VERMILION
Triadic

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

VERMILION
Split-Complementary

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

VERMILION
Tetradic (Square)

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

VERMILION
Monochromatic

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

VERMILION

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Vermilion #D9381E moves from dark #160603 tones through the base color to lighter #FCEBE9 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

VERMILION

Color Characteristics

Mood
Playful
Style
Neon Warm
Use case
Text Button Background

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #848400
Protanopia #5E5E22
Tritanopia #D93535
Achromatopsia #757575

Frequently Asked Questions

Vermilion (#D9381E) is a color with RGB(217, 56, 30) and HSL(8.34°, 86.18%, 85.1%).

#D9381E pairs strongly with #1EBFD9 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#D9381E is suitable for Text, Button, Background and works well with Neon, Warm styles.

#D9381E is commonly associated with Playful.

The name Vermilion is linked to vermiculus from Latin, meaning A small worm, specifically referring to the insect Kermes vermilio, from which a red dye was obtained..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word vermiculus
Meaning A small worm, specifically referring to the insect Kermes vermilio, from which a red dye was obtained.
Language Latin
First Recorded Use Classical Antiquity

History

Vermilion is a brilliant red pigment, originally derived from cinnabar, a mercury sulfide mineral. Its use dates back to ancient civilizations, including the Romans and Chinese, where it was highly prized for its intensity and permanence. The synthetic production of vermilion began in the 8th century in China and later in Europe, making it more widely available. It was a staple pigment for artists throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

First Recorded Use

The term 'vermiculus' was used in Latin to describe the insect and the dye it produced. The English 'vermilion' emerged in the late Middle Ages.

Cultural Associations

In China, vermilion has deep cultural significance, symbolizing life, good fortune, and royalty, often used in traditional lacquerware, calligraphy, and imperial seals. It was also a prominent color in medieval European illuminated manuscripts and religious art, representing the blood of Christ or the passion of saints. Its striking hue made it a powerful visual element in various artistic and decorative traditions globally.

Similar Named Colors
Lust #E62020 ΔE 3.50
KU Crimson #E8000D ΔE 3.54
CG Red #E03C31 ΔE 4.02
Dark Pastel Red #C23B22 ΔE 4.52

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #D9381E;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #D9381E;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #D9381E;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #D9381E,
        #B8F1FA
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #D9381E,
        #B8F1FA
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$vermilion: #D9381E;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$vermilion-r: 217;
$vermilion-g: 56;
$vermilion-b: 30;

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