First Blood

A high-intensity, bold, and energetic red

Select a Color

Red Pigment is an intensely saturated shade that demands immediate attention. This hex code, #ed1c24, works best as a 10% accent for calls to action rather than a large background. It pairs well with charcoal grays. Because black text maintains a 4.8:1 contrast ratio against this tone, you can safely use dark typography for high-impact buttons or bold labels.

About First Blood

Fire truck paint still warm from the summer sun

What does first blood mean?

Red often signals urgency and danger, and it commonly stands for passion, appetite, and celebration on signs, food, and holidays. Its high saturation and bright value make it feel loud and forward, grabbing attention before anything nearby gets a turn.

Where you see first blood

fire hydrant
stop sign
ripe tomato
cherry hard candy
mailbox
boxing gloves

What it works for

Use it for call to action buttons, sale tags, warning labels, and sports graphics where immediacy matters most.

What colors go with first blood?

Cream #fffdd0Cream dilutes the shout into something warmer, like a retro diner sign in daylight.Navy #000080Navy darkens everything around it, so this red reads even brighter and more urgent.Mustard #ffdb58Mustard shares its warmth, and the pair recalls painted posters and kitchen tins.Teal #008080Teal sits near its complement on the wheel, so the two snap hard together.Charcoal #36454fCharcoal grounds its brightness, like a lit sign at night against dark brick.

Questions about First Blood

What is the hex code for First Blood?

First Blood is #ed1c24. In RGB that is rgb(237, 28, 36), in HSL hsl(358, 85%, 52%) and in CMYK 0%, 88%, 85%, 7%.

How should I use the #ed1c24 Red Pigment in a digital interface?

Use #ed1c24 sparingly as a 10% accent color for high-impact elements like call to action buttons or urgent notifications. Because it is highly saturated, avoid using it as a large background or primary fill, which can overwhelm users and fatigue the eyes.

Is First Blood readable on white or black?

First Blood has a 4.38:1 contrast ratio on white and 4.79:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold) and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.