Aztec Print Color Psychology & Meaning
Aztec color is the loud warmth of Mesoamerican textile and stone — red, gold, and green pulled from feathers, maize, and jade. It signals tradition, craft, and a proud visual language.
#C0392B
#E8A33D
#4A7A5C
#2E2A24
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Aztec Print Color Palette
#C0392B · #E8A33D · #4A7A5C · #2E2A24
Fail
WCAG Grade
2.6:1
Contrast Ratio
180
Saves
560
AI Copies
Use #C0392B as the background. Use #E8A33D as the primary accent. Use #4A7A5C as secondary. Use #2E2A24 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Aztec Print — bold, earthy, tribal.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Aztec Print color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 14.3% | 192, 57, 43 | 0%, 70%, 78%, 25% | 6°, 63%, 46% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 43.7% | 232, 163, 61 | 0%, 30%, 74%, 9% | 36°, 79%, 57% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 16.1% | 74, 122, 92 | 39%, 0%, 25%, 52% | 143°, 24%, 38% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 2.4% | 46, 42, 36 | 0%, 9%, 22%, 82% | 36°, 12%, 16% |
Aztec Print Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Aztec Print palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#C0392B gently saturated red
#E8A33D saturated orange
#4A7A5C muted green
#2E2A24 muted orange
Aztec Print Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2E2A24 on #E8A33D |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.61:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #E8A33D on #2E2A24 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.61:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #2E2A24 on #4A7A5C |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4A7A5C on #2E2A24 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2E2A24 on #C0392B |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.62:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C0392B on #2E2A24 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.62:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8A33D on #C0392B |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.52:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C0392B on #E8A33D |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.52:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4A7A5C on #E8A33D |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.30:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8A33D on #4A7A5C |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.30:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4A7A5C on #C0392B |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.10:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C0392B on #4A7A5C |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.10:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The Aztec Print palette is built using a triadic relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A triadic palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Aztec featherwork and stone carving used a palette of red cochineal, gold, and green jade, recorded in the codices of the 16th century. The colors remain central to Mexican identity.
Best Design Use Cases
Red for hero surfaces and patterns. Gold for sun and accents. Green for the jade and maize. Near-black for structure. Suits textile design, Mexican heritage brands, and bold packaging.
Industries This Palette Suits
Textiles, Mexican heritage, craft brands, packaging, cultural tourism.
Colors That Pair Well With Aztec Print
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
blue
directly opposite #E8A33D on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
yellow
30° beside #E8A33D — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Aztec Print Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #E8A33D for small UI elements on #C0392B — at 2.5:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #2E2A24 on #C0392B — 2.6:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Let #4A7A5C carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #E8A33D.
How to Implement the Aztec Print Color Scheme
To use this Aztec Print color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'}Web Design Tip
Use #C0392B for the main background and #E8A33D for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #2E2A24 and #C0392B is 2.62:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Aztec Print Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Aztec Print color palette?
The Aztec Print palette contains #C0392B, #E8A33D, #4A7A5C, #2E2A24. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Aztec Print color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #2E2A24 on #E8A33D reaches 6.6:1 (AA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Aztec Print palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #3B80E8, #CEDD46, #F0EBEA extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Aztec Print palette create?
Aztec Print reads as bold, earthy, tribal. Saturated orange drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated red — a combination that works best when the mid-tone base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Aztec Print color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Aztec Print palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Aztec Print palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Aztec Print's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.