Crimson
A high-intensity, bold, and saturated red
Crimson is a high-intensity, saturated red that demands attention. Because it is so vivid, this shade works best as a 10% accent rather than a dominant background color. It pairs unexpectedly well with deep charcoal grays for a modern, grounded feel. White text is readable against this background, but the hex code #dc143c is most effective for calls to action and urgent UI alerts.
Questions about Crimson
What is the hex code for Crimson?
Crimson is #dc143c. In RGB that is rgb(220, 20, 60), in HSL hsl(348, 83%, 47%) and in CMYK 0%, 91%, 73%, 14%.
How should I use Crimson #dc143c in a UI design?
Because this red is extremely vivid, use it sparingly as a 10% accent for urgent calls to action or error states rather than as a background color. It is best reserved for elements that require immediate user attention.
Which neutral colors pair best with #dc143c?
Crimson pairs unexpectedly well with deep charcoal grays for a grounded, modern feel that prevents the red from feeling overwhelming. Neutral whites are also highly effective for text readability against this dark, saturated shade.
Is Crimson readable on white or black?
Crimson has a 4.98:1 contrast ratio on white and 4.20:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold). Try other pairs in the contrast checker.