Red Tide Color Psychology & Meaning
Red tide is harmful algae blooms made visual — these dramatic crimsons against dark are the colors of ecological disaster that is also undeniably beautiful.
#0A0A14
#8B0020
#FF3050
#FF9090
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Red Tide Color Palette
#0A0A14 · #8B0020 · #FF3050 · #FF9090
AAA
WCAG Grade
9.0:1
Contrast Ratio
1,700
Saves
4,600
AI Copies
Use #0A0A14 as the background. Use #8B0020 as the primary accent. Use #FF3050 as secondary. Use #FF9090 as body text. Palette: Red Tide — dark, dramatic, scientific.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Red Tide 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: 0.3% | 10, 10, 20 | 50%, 50%, 0%, 92% | 240°, 33%, 6% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 5.6% | 139, 0, 32 | 0%, 100%, 77%, 45% | 346°, 100%, 27% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 24.0% | 255, 48, 80 | 0%, 81%, 69%, 0% | 351°, 100%, 59% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 43.2% | 255, 144, 144 | 0%, 44%, 44%, 0% | 0°, 100%, 78% |
Red Tide 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 Red Tide palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#0A0A14 gently saturated blue
#8B0020 saturated rose-red
#FF3050 saturated rose-red
#FF9090 saturated red
Red Tide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #FF9090 on #0A0A14 |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.04:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #0A0A14 on #FF9090 |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.04:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #FF3050 on #0A0A14 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.43:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #0A0A14 on #FF3050 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.43:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #FF9090 on #8B0020 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.55:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #8B0020 on #FF9090 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.55:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #FF3050 on #8B0020 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.73:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8B0020 on #FF3050 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.73:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8B0020 on #0A0A14 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.99:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0A0A14 on #8B0020 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.99:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #FF9090 on #FF3050 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.67:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #FF3050 on #FF9090 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.67:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The Red Tide 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.
Hue Wheel
A triadic palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Harmful algal blooms (red tides) occur globally and are increasing with ocean warming. The visual has become associated with environmental warnings despite — or because of — its beauty.
Best Design Use Cases
Near-black for backgrounds. Deep crimson for secondary surfaces. Bright red for primary dramatic elements. Light pink for text on dark.
Industries This Palette Suits
Environmental brands, ocean science, climate communication, science journalism, dramatic editorial.
Colors That Pair Well With Red Tide
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 #8B0020 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
orange
30° beside #8B0020 — 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 Red Tide Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #8B0020 for small UI elements on #0A0A14 — at 2.0:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #FF9090 — 9.0:1 against #0A0A14 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Don't use #FF3050 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Red Tide Color Scheme
To use this Red Tide 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 #0A0A14 for the main background and #8B0020 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #FF9090 and #0A0A14 is 9.04:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Red Tide Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Red Tide color palette?
The Red Tide palette contains #0A0A14, #8B0020, #FF3050, #FF9090. 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 Red Tide color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #FF9090 on #0A0A14 reaches 9.0:1 (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 Red Tide palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #00B389, #832807, #ECECEF 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 Red Tide palette create?
Red Tide reads as dark, dramatic, scientific. Saturated rose-red drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated blue — a combination that works best when the deep base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Red Tide color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Red Tide 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 Red Tide 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 Red Tide's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.