Is Crimson (#DC143C) accessible for digital body text?

Against a pure white background (#FFFFFF), #DC143C achieves a contrast ratio of 4.99:1 (Passing WCAG AA normal text). Against a dark slate background (#0F172A), it achieves a contrast ratio of 3.58:1 (Failing WCAG AA normal text).

Which color harmonies pair best with Crimson?

The exact complementary color for #DC143C is #14DBB4. For analogous pairings, use #DB14A0 and #DB5014. You can explore these combinations further in our Color Harmony Generator.

Color Directory/Crimson

Crimson (#DC143C)

Q: What are the exact digital and print color codes for Crimson (#DC143C)?

Crimson has the HEX code #DC143C. In RGB color coordinates, its values are 220, 20, 60. In HSL, it is 348°, 83%, 47%. In CMYK print values, it corresponds to C:0% M:91% Y:73% K:14%.

Luminance: 16% · Nearest standard name: Crimson

Generate Around This Color

CRIMSON

#DC143C

rgb(220, 20, 60) · hsl(348°, 83%, 47%)

HEX#DC143C

RGB220, 20, 60

HSL348°, 83%, 47%

HSV / HSB348°, 91%, 86%

CMYK (Print)0%, 91%, 73%, 14%

Color Harmonies

Complementary

#DC143C#14DBB4

Analogous

#DB14A0#DC143C#DB5014

Triadic

#DC143C#3CDB14#143CDB

Tints & Shades

Lighter Tints

Darker Shades

WCAG 2.2 Contrast Verification

Against White (#FFFFFF)4.99:1

Sample text rendered with #DC143C on white

AA Normal: PASSAA Large: PASS

Against Dark (#0F172A)3.58:1

Sample text rendered with #DC143C on dark

AA Normal: FAILAA Large: PASS

Palettes Featuring Similar Tones

cp-featured-01Technology

TechModernCool

cp-featured-02Sunset

SunsetGradientCreative

cp-featured-03Vintage

VintageRetroWarm

cp-featured-04Gaming

Cyber Glitch Protocol

GamingFuturisticNeon

Comprehensive Color Profile & Design Architecture

The Complete Color Guide to Crimson (#DC143C)

Crimson (#DC143C) is a distinct shade within the Rose & Red chromatic spectrum. Characterized by an optical luminance of 16% and a warm color temperature, this tone plays a vital role across web applications, brand identities, and editorial typography. Discover its mathematical harmonies, accessibility metrics, UI engineering roles, and front-end code tokens.

Technical Colorimetry & Coordinate Breakdown

Exact mathematical values across digital display, print press, and human perceptual spaces.

HEX Code#DC143C

RGB Space220, 20, 60

HSL Values348°, 83%, 47%

HSV / HSB348°, 91%, 86%

CMYK Ink0%, 91%, 73%, 14%

TemperatureWarm

Optical Color Harmony Formulas for Crimson

Geometric intervals calculated from #DC143C on the 360-degree color wheel.

Direct Polar (180°)#14DBB4

Complementary Harmony

Pairs Crimson with its polar opposite (#14DBB4) to create maximum optical contrast, perfect for high-converting call-to-action buttons.

Adjacent (±30°)#DB14A0 · #DB5014

Analogous Harmony

Positions adjacent neighboring hues on either side of Crimson for serene, gentle, and organic visual transitions.

Split Angles (150° / 210°)#14DB50 · #14A0DB

Split-Complementary

Uses the two colors flanking the direct complement of Crimson, offering rich visual variety without harsh chromatic vibration.

Triangular (120°)#3CDB14 · #143CDB

Triadic Harmony

Forms an equilateral triangle on the color wheel, generating playful, dynamic energy when balanced against a neutral background.

Rectangular (90°)#A0DB14 · #14DBB4 · #5014DB

Tetradic (Square) Harmony

A rich four-color scheme combining two complementary pairs, ideal for complex dashboards, gaming HUDs, and multi-tier charts.

Interactive Exploration

Build Palettes With Crimson

Lock #DC143C inside our interactive generator to calculate live matching palettes in real time.

Launch Palette Generator

The 60-30-10 UI Implementation Role for Crimson

Recommended proportional volume and semantic interface assignment.

Recommended Assignment: Interactive Brand Accent (10% Volume)

With a saturation of 83% and lightness of 47%, Crimson (#DC143C) acts as an attention-grabbing focal point. In user interfaces, reserve it for primary CTA buttons, active state indicators, and notification badges to draw user clicks immediately.

Light Mode SurfaceIdeal for buttons and badges

Dark Mode AdaptationDesaturate slightly for ambient glow

Tonal Expansion ScaleView 10-step design token ramp →

Color Psychology & Industry Alignment

Strategic cognitive triggers and target sector recommendations.

Cognitive & Emotional Perception

Radiates high energy, urgency, passionate emotion, and dramatic visual power. Commands immediate human attention.

Optimal Industry Verticals

E-Commerce Flash Sales, Fitness Apparel, Gaming HUDs, Food & Beverage. Combining Crimson with intentional neutral whitespace reinforces authority and conversion clarity.

Production Code Tokens for Crimson

Drop-in design system tokens for CSS, Tailwind CSS, and SCSS.

CSS Custom Properties (:root)Vanilla CSS

:root {
  --color-dc143c: #DC143C;
  --color-dc143c-rgb: 220, 20, 60;
  --color-dc143c-hsl: 348deg 83% 47%;
}

tailwind.config.jsTailwind CSS

module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      colors: {
        'dc143c': '#DC143C',
      }
    }
  }
};

Explore Related Color Tools for Crimson

Continue developing your color system with specialized design tools.

Palette Generator

Generate harmonious 5-color palettes anchored to Crimson.

Launch Tool

WCAG Contrast Checker

Verify Level AA and AAA readability for Crimson against any background.

Check Contrast

Shades & Tints Scale

Generate a full 10-step tonal scale from 50 to 900 for Crimson.

Expand Scale

CSS Gradient Generator

Create linear and radial gradients blending Crimson with complementary hues.

Build Gradients

Frequently Asked Questions About Crimson (#DC143C)

Authoritative answers covering Crimson color codes, WCAG contrast compliance, and UI design systems.

What are the exact digital and print color codes for Crimson (#DC143C)?

Crimson is defined by the HEX code #DC143C. Its digital screen RGB coordinates are R:220, G:20, B:60. Its cylindrical HSL values are Hue:348°, Saturation:83%, Lightness:47%. In HSV/HSB format, it is 348°, 91%, 86%. For four-color CMYK process printing, its ink percentages are C:0%, M:91%, Y:73%, K:14%.

Does Crimson (#DC143C) pass WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards for text readability?

Against a pure white (#FFFFFF) background, Crimson achieves a contrast ratio of 4.99:1 (Passing WCAG AA for normal body text, and Passing for large headings). Against dark slate (#0F172A), it achieves a contrast ratio of 3.58:1 (Failing WCAG AA).

What is the direct complementary color for Crimson (#DC143C)?

The exact 180-degree optical complementary color for #DC143C is #14DBB4. When placed side-by-side, #DC143C and #14DBB4 create maximum visual tension and high click-through conversion rates.

What is the recommended role for Crimson in the 60-30-10 UI design rule?

How can I copy and export Crimson into Tailwind CSS and CSS variables?

You can define Crimson in CSS custom properties as ':root { --color-custom: #DC143C; }' or paste it into your 'tailwind.config.js' file under 'theme.extend.colors'. You can also generate full palettes containing Crimson using our interactive Color Palette Generator.

Which color family does Crimson (#DC143C) belong to?

Crimson belongs to the Rose & Red family (Warm spectrum). You can explore full tonal ramps and curated palettes in our Rose & Red Color Guide.