Old Postcard Color Palette
#E8D0B0 · #C88A6A · #8AA8A0 · #3E3428
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.
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 |
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.
A split-complementary palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Best Design Use Cases
Industries This Palette Suits
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.
directly opposite #C88A6A on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #C88A6A — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
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.