Retro Poster Color Palette
#C8543C · #E8C24E · #3E7A8E · #2E2A2E
Use #C8543C as the background. Use #E8C24E as the primary accent. Use #3E7A8E as secondary. Use #2E2A2E as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Retro Poster — vintage, warm, candy, neon.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Retro Poster 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: 18.9% | 200, 84, 60 | 0%, 58%, 70%, 22% | 10°, 56%, 51% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 56.3% | 232, 194, 78 | 0%, 16%, 66%, 9% | 45°, 77%, 61% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 16.9% | 62, 122, 142 | 56%, 14%, 0%, 44% | 195°, 39%, 40% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 2.4% | 46, 42, 46 | 0%, 9%, 0%, 82% | 300°, 5%, 17% |
Retro Poster 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 Retro Poster palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Retro Poster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2E2A2E on #E8C24E |
Aa Sample Text
| 8.24:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #E8C24E on #2E2A2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 8.24:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #2E2A2E on #C8543C |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.22:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C8543C on #2E2A2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.22:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #2E2A2E on #3E7A8E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.95:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #3E7A8E on #2E2A2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.95:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #3E7A8E on #E8C24E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.80:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8C24E on #3E7A8E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.80:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8C24E on #C8543C |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.56:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8543C on #E8C24E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.56:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #3E7A8E on #C8543C |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.09:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8543C on #3E7A8E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.09:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The Retro Poster 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.
A triadic 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 Retro Poster
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 #E8C24E on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #E8C24E — 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 Retro Poster Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #E8C24E for small UI elements on #C8543C — at 2.6:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #2E2A2E on #C8543C — 3.2:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Let #3E7A8E carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #E8C24E.
How to Implement the Retro Poster Color Scheme
To use this Retro Poster 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 #C8543C for the main background and #E8C24E for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #2E2A2E and #C8543C is 3.22:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Retro Poster Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Retro Poster color palette?
The Retro Poster palette contains #C8543C, #E8C24E, #3E7A8E, #2E2A2E. 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 Retro Poster color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #2E2A2E on #E8C24E 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 Retro Poster palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #4F75E8, #BDDE59, #171212 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 Retro Poster palette create?
Retro Poster reads as vintage, warm, candy. 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 Retro Poster color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Retro Poster 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 Retro Poster 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 Retro Poster's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.