Nara Vermilion Color Psychology & Meaning
Vermilion is the sacred red of Japanese shrines — the color of torii gates and temple columns. It signals energy, protection, and ceremony, the most charged color in Japanese visual culture.
#B3362A
#D4573A
#E8A37E
#5C1712
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Nara Vermilion Color Palette
#B3362A · #D4573A · #E8A37E · #5C1712
Fail
WCAG Grade
2.2:1
Contrast Ratio
190
Saves
580
AI Copies
Use #B3362A as the background. Use #D4573A as the primary accent. Use #E8A37E as secondary. Use #5C1712 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Nara Vermilion — bold, traditional, ceremonial.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Nara Vermilion 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: 12.4% | 179, 54, 42 | 0%, 70%, 77%, 30% | 5°, 62%, 43% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 21.1% | 212, 87, 58 | 0%, 59%, 73%, 17% | 11°, 64%, 53% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 44.9% | 232, 163, 126 | 0%, 30%, 46%, 9% | 21°, 70%, 70% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 2.9% | 92, 23, 18 | 0%, 75%, 80%, 64% | 4°, 67%, 22% |
Nara Vermilion 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 Nara Vermilion palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#B3362A gently saturated red
#D4573A gently saturated red
#E8A37E saturated orange
#5C1712 saturated red
Nara Vermilion 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #5C1712 on #E8A37E |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.29:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #E8A37E on #5C1712 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.29:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #5C1712 on #D4573A |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.29:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #D4573A on #5C1712 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.29:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #E8A37E on #B3362A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #B3362A on #E8A37E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5C1712 on #B3362A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.19:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #B3362A on #5C1712 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.19:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8A37E on #D4573A |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.91:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D4573A on #E8A37E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.91:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D4573A on #B3362A |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.50:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #B3362A on #D4573A |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.50:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Nara Vermilion 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
Vermilion, made from cinnabar, has painted Japanese shrines since the Nara period, when the city of Nara was the imperial capital. The color marks the boundary between the everyday and the sacred.
Best Design Use Cases
Vermilion for gates, columns, and hero surfaces. Lighter flame for accents. Pale apricot for text and lantern light. Deep cinnabar for headings. Suits cultural institutions, shrines, and bold traditional branding.
Industries This Palette Suits
Cultural tourism, shrines and temples, Japanese design, architecture, ceramics.
Colors That Pair Well With Nara Vermilion
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.
cyan-blue
directly opposite #D4573A on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
orange
30° beside #D4573A — 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 Nara Vermilion Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #D4573A for small UI elements on #B3362A — at 1.5:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #5C1712 on #B3362A — 2.2:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #E8A37E behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Nara Vermilion Color Scheme
To use this Nara Vermilion 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 #B3362A for the main background and #D4573A for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #5C1712 and #B3362A is 2.19:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Nara Vermilion Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Nara Vermilion color palette?
The Nara Vermilion palette contains #B3362A, #D4573A, #E8A37E, #5C1712. 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 Nara Vermilion color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #5C1712 on #E8A37E 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 Nara Vermilion palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #3AB8D4, #C89F46, #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 Nara Vermilion palette create?
Nara Vermilion reads as bold, traditional, ceremonial. Gently saturated red 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 Nara Vermilion color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Nara Vermilion 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 Nara Vermilion 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 Nara Vermilion's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.