Vermilion Color Psychology & Meaning
Vermilion is the brilliant orange-red of sealing wax and Chinese lacquer, warm enough to feel alive but too confident to be playful. It is a color that has announced importance for two thousand years.
#E34234
#F26D5C
#F8B3A8
#4A0D08
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Vermilion Color Palette
#E34234 · #F26D5C · #F8B3A8 · #4A0D08
Fail
WCAG Grade
3.8:1
Contrast Ratio
1,220
Saves
3,340
AI Copies
Use #E34234 as the background. Use #F26D5C as the primary accent. Use #F8B3A8 as secondary. Use #4A0D08 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Vermilion — bold, warm, classic.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the 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: 20.5% | 227, 66, 52 | 0%, 71%, 77%, 11% | 5°, 76%, 55% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 30.6% | 242, 109, 92 | 0%, 55%, 62%, 5% | 7°, 85%, 65% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 55.0% | 248, 179, 168 | 0%, 28%, 32%, 3% | 8°, 85%, 82% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.8% | 74, 13, 8 | 0%, 82%, 89%, 71% | 5°, 80%, 16% |
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 Vermilion palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#E34234 saturated red
#F26D5C saturated red
#F8B3A8 saturated red
#4A0D08 saturated red
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4A0D08 on #F8B3A8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 8.88:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F8B3A8 on #4A0D08 |
Aa Sample Text
| 8.88:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #4A0D08 on #F26D5C |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.26:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #F26D5C on #4A0D08 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.26:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #4A0D08 on #E34234 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.77:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #E34234 on #4A0D08 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.77:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #F8B3A8 on #E34234 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.36:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E34234 on #F8B3A8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.36:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F8B3A8 on #F26D5C |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.69:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F26D5C on #F8B3A8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.69:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F26D5C on #E34234 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.40:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E34234 on #F26D5C |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.40:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The 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 was made by heating mercury and sulfur, a recipe known in China and the Roman world. It was the standard red of official seals, temple gates, and the richest of Renaissance paintings.
Best Design Use Cases
Use vermilion for bold brand moments, ceremony, and high-impact calls to action. The coral tones soften supporting sections, while the deep rust anchors text and footers.
Industries This Palette Suits
Ceremony, art, Chinese heritage, food, publishing.
Colors That Pair Well With 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.
teal
directly opposite #F26D5C on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
orange
30° beside #F26D5C — 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 Vermilion Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #F26D5C for small UI elements on #E34234 — at 1.4:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #4A0D08 on #E34234 — 3.8:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #F8B3A8 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Vermilion Color Scheme
To use this 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 #E34234 for the main background and #F26D5C for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #4A0D08 and #E34234 is 3.77:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Vermilion Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Vermilion color palette?
The Vermilion palette contains #E34234, #F26D5C, #F8B3A8, #4A0D08. 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 Vermilion color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #4A0D08 on #F8B3A8 reaches 8.9:1 (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 Vermilion palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #5AE0F2, #E9B563, #181111 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 Vermilion palette create?
Vermilion reads as bold, warm, classic. Saturated red drives the personality, grounded by saturated red — a combination that works best when the light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Vermilion color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the 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 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 Vermilion's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.