Crimson

HEX: #DC143C | Modern Palette

On White
4.99:1
PASS
On Black
4.21:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#DC143C
RGB
220, 20, 60
HSL
348°, 83% ,47%
CMYK
0, 91, 73, 14

About Crimson

Crimson (#DC143C) is a color with RGB(220, 20, 60) and HSL(348°, 83.3%, 47.1%). 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 #14DCB4, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #3CDC14 and #143CDC. The name comes from cremesin (Old Spanish).

  • HEX: #DC143C
  • RGB: 220, 20, 60
  • HSL: 348°, 83.3%, 47.1%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #14DCB4
  • Triadic colors: #3CDC14, #143CDC
  • The name comes from cremesin (Old Spanish).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Crimson #DC143C 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.
 
 
CRIMSON
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
CRIMSON
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
CRIMSON
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Crimson #DC143C pairs with #14DCB4 as its complementary color, and #3CDC14 and #143CDC 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.

CRIMSON
Analogous

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

CRIMSON
Triadic

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

CRIMSON
Split-Complementary

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

CRIMSON
Tetradic (Square)

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

CRIMSON
Monochromatic

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

CRIMSON

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Crimson #DC143C moves from dark #170206 tones through the base color to lighter #FDE8EC tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

CRIMSON

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #7F7F30
Protanopia #52523E
Tritanopia #DB1C1C
Achromatopsia #6F6F6F

Frequently Asked Questions

Crimson (#DC143C) is a color with RGB(220, 20, 60) and HSL(348°, 83.3%, 47.1%).

#DC143C pairs strongly with #14DCB4 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#DC143C is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#DC143C is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Crimson is linked to cremesin from Old Spanish, meaning of the kermes.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word cremesin
Meaning of the kermes
Language Old Spanish
First Recorded Use Late Middle Ages

History

The word 'crimson' traces its roots back to the Old Spanish 'cremesin', which itself came from the Arabic 'qirmizi'. This Arabic term referred to the kermes insect (Kermes vermilio), from which a rich red dye was extracted. This dye was highly prized and traded across the Mediterranean. The word evolved through Old French ('cramoisin') and Middle English ('crimosin' or 'cremesin') before settling into its modern form. Historically, crimson was a color associated with royalty, power, and religious significance due to the expense and rarity of the kermes dye.

First Recorded Use

14th century

Cultural Associations

Crimson is a color with deep cultural resonance. In Western cultures, it is often associated with passion, love, anger, and courage. It is a prominent color in many national flags and heraldry, symbolizing sacrifice or strength. In religious contexts, particularly Christianity, crimson can represent the blood of Christ or martyrdom. In some Eastern cultures, it may also symbolize good fortune or celebration, though red shades can have varying specific meanings. It is also a common color in academic regalia, often signifying divinity or law.

Similar Named Colors
Rusty Red #DA2C43 ΔE 1.86
Rich Carmine #D70040 ΔE 2.77
Utah Crimson #D3003F ΔE 3.39
Vivid Crimson #CC0033 ΔE 3.98

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #DC143C;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #DC143C;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #DC143C;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #DC143C,
        #14DCB4
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #DC143C,
        #14DCB4
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$crimson: #DC143C;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$crimson-r: 220;
$crimson-g: 20;
$crimson-b: 60;

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