Apricot Yellow

A soft, warm, and gentle light yellow like a ripe apricot

HEX#F0C87A

RGBrgb(240, 200, 122)

HSLhsl(40, 80%, 71%)

HSVhsv(40, 49%, 94%)

CMYKcmyk(0%, 17%, 49%, 6%)

HEXA#F0C87AFF

RGBArgba(240, 200, 122, 1)

HSLAhsla(40, 80%, 71%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(92.7%, 0.062, 88)

LCHlch(91.5%, 21.4, 112)

🎨 Color Palettes

Analogous2-3 adjacent hues (≤60°)

Triadic3 hues spaced 120° apart

Split ComplementaryMain color + colors adjacent to its complement

Complementary2 hues spaced 180° apart

Tetradic (Rectangle)4 hues forming a rectangle

MonochromaticSingle hue with varying saturation and lightness

♿ WCAG Contrast Colors

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Aa14px Body

High Contrast Text

#4E3709Ratio 7.1:1AAA

Suitable for body text, headings, and primary content, ensuring readability for all users

Aa14px Body

Standard Text

#52600BRatio 4.4:1AA Large

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

Aa14px Body

Large Text / UI Components

#36850FRatio 2.9:1Fail

Suitable for large text (≥18px bold or ≥24px), icons, UI component boundaries

Aa14px Body

Decorative / Dividers

#12A574Ratio 2:1Fail

Suitable for decorative elements, dividers, non-essential text

📊 Color Scales

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Lightness VariationFixed hue and saturation, stepwise lightness adjustment ±30%

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#E6A31E

#EBB64C

#F0C97A

#F5DBA8

#FAECD1

Saturation VariationFixed hue and lightness, stepwise saturation adjustment ±30%

#DAC190

#E1C489

#E9C681

#F0C97A

#F8CB72

#FFCE6B

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation adjustment

#BC8D2F

#D7A43C

#E4B558

#EEC677

#F6D798

#FBE4B6

#FDE5B4

Hue Fine-TuningFixed saturation and lightness, stepwise hue fine-tuning ±15°

#F0AB7A

#F0B57A

#F0BF7A

#F0C97A

#F0D37A

#F0DC7A

#F0E67A

💡 Use Cases

🍵

Tea Room Space

Using Apricot Yellow for walls or soft furnishings in New Chinese-style tea rooms creates a tranquil yet not cold atmosphere for tea tasting, promoting complete physical and mental relaxation.

👶

Mother and Baby Products

A common color for infant clothing and bedding, its soft warm tone cares for the underdeveloped visual systems of newborns, conveying gentle love.

📷

Vintage Filters

In post-production photography and graphic design, Apricot Yellow filters simulate the texture of old times, adding a layer of nostalgic poetry to works.

🏡

Rustic Home Decor

A favored color scheme in Japanese or French country-style home decor, paired with raw wood and cotton-linen materials to build a natural, rustic living aesthetic.

📜 Origin & History

The name Apricot Yellow comes from the ripe apricot fruit. China is the origin of the apricot, and the character for 'apricot' already existed in Shang Dynasty oracle bone inscriptions. The ancients observed the apricot's color change process from green to yellow to a red blush, extracting that soft, orange-tinged yellow of the intermediate stage and naming it Apricot Yellow.

By the Tang Dynasty, Apricot Yellow had entered the clothing system. According to the 'Six Codes of the Tang,' Apricot Yellow was one of the auspicious colors permitted for commoners, distinct from the emperor's reddish-yellow. The Apricot Yellow robes worn by donors in Dunhuang murals are still visible today, dyed using a combination of smoke tree wood and madder, resulting in a warm and calm tone.

During the Ming Dynasty, the status of Apricot Yellow subtly rose. The 'History of Ming: Records of Carriages and Costumes' stipulated that the crown prince's regular attire used Apricot Yellow, making it a quasi-royal color second only to Bright Yellow. The Suzhou Weaving and Dyeing Bureau developed a refined Apricot Yellow using pagoda tree buds and alum mordant, known as 'Su Apricot Yellow,' with a texture as fine as paste.

In the Qing Dynasty, Manchu tradition held a special appreciation for Apricot Yellow. Originating from the northeast where apricot trees are cold-resistant, Apricot Yellow was seen as an auspicious sign of the earth's return to spring. Qing palace consorts extensively used Apricot Yellow in their casual wear, forming a gentle contrast with the capital's red walls and becoming an important element of harem life aesthetics.

In contemporary design, Apricot Yellow has regained popularity. Because it is less assertive than Bright Yellow but more characterful than beige, it is widely welcomed in New Chinese-style spaces like guesthouses and tea houses, conveying a gentle, uncontentious attitude towards life.

🧠 Color Psychology

Gentle as JadeThe warm tone of Apricot Yellow is soft and not blazing, like touching an ancient jade warmed by the sun, providing a restrained and lasting comfort.

ContentmentA ripe apricot symbolizes just the right amount of harvest, and Apricot Yellow can evoke a sense of cherishing and satisfaction in life's simple, small blessings.

Understated EleganceIts unassuming saturation gives Apricot Yellow a restrained aristocratic air, a presence that is noticed without needing to speak loudly.

Nostalgic GlowLike the faded warm tones of an old photograph, Apricot Yellow can trigger tender memories, suitable for creating an atmosphere of reminiscence and retrospection.

Accepting and InclusiveThe neutral warm tone of Apricot Yellow is highly compatible with various colors, psychologically conveying an openness and inclusiveness that welcomes all.

Maternal SoftnessWith a soft, almost hazy texture, Apricot Yellow is naturally associated with baby products, evoking a sense of security and being cared for.

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