#E8D0B0
#C88A6A
#8AA8A0
#3E3428
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text

Old Postcard Color Palette

#E8D0B0 · #C88A6A · #8AA8A0 · #3E3428

AAA
WCAG Grade
8.2:1
Contrast Ratio
1,180
Saves
3,000
AI Copies
AI Prompt

Use #E8D0B0 as the background. Use #C88A6A as the primary accent. Use #8AA8A0 as secondary. Use #3E3428 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Old Postcard — vintage, warm, sunset, pastel.

Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values

Technical breakdown for the Old Postcard 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: 65.4%
232, 208, 176 0%, 10%, 24%, 9% 34°, 55%, 80%
Primary Accent
Luminance: 31.5%
200, 138, 106 0%, 31%, 47%, 22% 20°, 46%, 60%
Secondary
Luminance: 35.9%
138, 168, 160 18%, 0%, 5%, 34% 164°, 15%, 60%
Body Text
Luminance: 3.6%
62, 52, 40 0%, 16%, 35%, 76% 33°, 22%, 20%

Old Postcard 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 Old Postcard palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.

#E8D0B0 gently saturated orange
#C88A6A gently saturated orange
#8AA8A0 muted teal
#3E3428 muted orange

Old Postcard 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
#3E3428 on #E8D0B0
Aa Sample Text
8.15:1 AAA Body text, headings, UI
#E8D0B0 on #3E3428
Aa Sample Text
8.15:1 AAA Body text, headings, UI
#3E3428 on #8AA8A0
Aa Sample Text
4.74:1 AA Body text, UI
#8AA8A0 on #3E3428
Aa Sample Text
4.74:1 AA Body text, UI
#3E3428 on #C88A6A
Aa Sample Text
4.23:1 Fail Large headings, UI components
#C88A6A on #3E3428
Aa Sample Text
4.23:1 Fail Large headings, UI components
#C88A6A on #E8D0B0
Aa Sample Text
1.93:1 Fail Decorative use only
#E8D0B0 on #C88A6A
Aa Sample Text
1.93:1 Fail Decorative use only
#8AA8A0 on #E8D0B0
Aa Sample Text
1.72:1 Fail Decorative use only
#E8D0B0 on #8AA8A0
Aa Sample Text
1.72:1 Fail Decorative use only
#8AA8A0 on #C88A6A
Aa Sample Text
1.12:1 Fail Decorative use only
#C88A6A on #8AA8A0
Aa Sample Text
1.12:1 Fail Decorative use only

Old Postcard Color Psychology & Meaning

A hand-tinted postcard uses a small number of flat colours printed over a photograph, so the result looks like a memory with the contrast turned down, and this palette is card stock with sea green print. It feels sentimental and bright, the color of a view someone once wanted to send home.

Color Harmony: Split-Complementary Scheme

The Old Postcard palette is built using a split-complementary relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.

Hue Wheel

A split-complementary palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.

History & Design Context

Hand-tinted postcards were produced by applying translucent colour to black-and-white prints, and the limited palette and soft edges of the process give the images their characteristic look.

Best Design Use Cases

Use the card stock for hero surfaces, printed rose for interactive elements, sea green print for accents, and ink dark for text.

Industries This Palette Suits

Vintage fashion, thrift and resale, antiques, interiors.

Colors That Pair Well With Old Postcard

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 #C88A6A on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy

yellow

30° beside #C88A6A — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension

tinted neutral

a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers

Using Old Postcard Without Breaking Accessibility

  • Avoid #C88A6A for small UI elements on #E8D0B0 — at 1.9:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
  • Set body text in #3E3428 — 8.2:1 against #E8D0B0 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
  • Don't use #8AA8A0 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.

How to Implement the Old Postcard Color Scheme

To use this Old Postcard 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 #E8D0B0 for the main background and #C88A6A for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.

Accessibility Note

The contrast ratio between #3E3428 and #E8D0B0 is 8.15:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.

Old Postcard Palette — Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hex codes in the Old Postcard color palette?

The Old Postcard palette contains #E8D0B0, #C88A6A, #8AA8A0, #3E3428. 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 Old Postcard color palette accessible (WCAG)?

Yes for its strongest pairings: #3E3428 on #E8D0B0 reaches 8.2:1 (AAA). 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 Old Postcard palette?

Beyond its own four colors, #6AA9C8, #BEB174, #171512 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 Old Postcard palette create?

Old Postcard reads as vintage, warm, sunset. Gently saturated orange drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated orange — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.

Can I use the Old Postcard color palette commercially?

Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Old Postcard 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 Old Postcard 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 Old Postcard's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.

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