Cochineal Color Psychology & Meaning
Cochineal is the deep crimson of hand-dyed wool and ancient tapestries. It feels historical and precious, carrying the weight of a color that was once worth more than its weight in gold.
#7D0F2E
#A92B4E
#D97A97
#2B0510
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Cochineal Color Palette
#7D0F2E · #A92B4E · #D97A97 · #2B0510
Fail
WCAG Grade
1.7:1
Contrast Ratio
860
Saves
2,260
AI Copies
Use #7D0F2E as the background. Use #A92B4E as the primary accent. Use #D97A97 as secondary. Use #2B0510 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Cochineal — deep, historic, rich.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Cochineal 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: 4.9% | 125, 15, 46 | 0%, 88%, 63%, 51% | 343°, 79%, 27% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 10.7% | 169, 43, 78 | 0%, 75%, 54%, 34% | 343°, 59%, 42% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 30.9% | 217, 122, 151 | 0%, 44%, 30%, 15% | 342°, 56%, 66% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 0.7% | 43, 5, 16 | 0%, 88%, 63%, 83% | 343°, 79%, 9% |
Cochineal 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 Cochineal palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#7D0F2E saturated rose-red
#A92B4E gently saturated rose-red
#D97A97 gently saturated rose-red
#2B0510 saturated rose-red
Cochineal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2B0510 on #D97A97 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.34:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #D97A97 on #2B0510 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.34:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #D97A97 on #7D0F2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.63:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #7D0F2E on #D97A97 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.63:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #2B0510 on #A92B4E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.78:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A92B4E on #2B0510 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.78:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D97A97 on #A92B4E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.29:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A92B4E on #D97A97 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.29:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2B0510 on #7D0F2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.75:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #7D0F2E on #2B0510 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.75:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A92B4E on #7D0F2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.59:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #7D0F2E on #A92B4E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.59:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Cochineal palette is built using a analogous relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
The cochineal insect of Mexico and Peru produced the most valuable red dye in history. Its export became a cornerstone of the Spanish empire, and it colored the finest cloth of Europe for three centuries.
Best Design Use Cases
Use cochineal for heritage brand surfaces and textile-led designs. The rose tones soften supporting areas, while the near-black wine carries text and gives the palette its depth.
Industries This Palette Suits
Textiles, heritage crafts, fashion, museums, premium food.
Colors That Pair Well With Cochineal
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.
teal
directly opposite #A92B4E on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
red
30° beside #A92B4E — 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 Cochineal Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #A92B4E for small UI elements on #7D0F2E — at 1.6:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #2B0510 on #7D0F2E — 1.7:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #D97A97 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Cochineal Color Scheme
To use this Cochineal 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 #7D0F2E for the main background and #A92B4E for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #2B0510 and #7D0F2E is 1.75:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Cochineal Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Cochineal color palette?
The Cochineal palette contains #7D0F2E, #A92B4E, #D97A97, #2B0510. 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 Cochineal color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #2B0510 on #D97A97 reaches 6.3:1 (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 Cochineal palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #2CAA86, #A04D37, #F1EAEC 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 Cochineal palette create?
Cochineal reads as deep, historic, rich. Gently saturated rose-red drives the personality, grounded by saturated rose-red — a combination that works best when the mid-tone base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Cochineal color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Cochineal 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 Cochineal 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 Cochineal's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.