Burnt Ochre

Warm brown of calcined ochre, color of prehistoric rock paintings

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RGBrgb(160, 82, 45)

HSLhsl(19, 56%, 40%)

HSVhsv(19, 72%, 63%)

CMYKcmyk(0%, 49%, 72%, 37%)

HEXA#A0522DFF

RGBArgba(160, 82, 45, 1)

HSLAhsla(19, 56%, 40%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(72.8%, 0.082, 56)

LCHlch(67.7%, 25.7, 69)

🎨 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

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Aa14px Body

High Contrast Text

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Standard Text

#EEE6C3Ratio 4.5:1AA

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

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Large Text / UI Components

#A2CB48Ratio 3:1AA Large

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

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Decorative / Dividers

#31AF59Ratio 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%

#28140B

#502916

#773D22

#9F512D

#C76538

#D28460

#DDA388

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

#815C4B

#8B5941

#955537

#9F512D

#A94D23

#B44A18

#BE460E

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation adjustment

#342118

#533222

#754129

#99502E

#C05D30

#D87041

#E5885D

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

#9F342D

#9F3E2D

#9F482D

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💡 Use Cases

🎨

Rock Art Creation

Burnt ochre is a representative color of natural mineral pigments. Used in contemporary rock or textured paintings, it presents the rugged beauty of primitive art.

🏺

Pottery Glaze

Used as a glaze for high-temperature pottery, burnt ochre produces unique metallic mottled effects, reflecting the warmth of craftsmanship.

🧱

Building Facade

Burnt ochre paint or brick can give a building a sense of history and solidity, suitable for cultural or vintage-style architecture.

🖌️

Ink Landscape Painting

As an alternative to ochre in Chinese painting, burnt ochre can be used to tint rocks and tree trunks, adding warmth and layering to the scene.

📜 Origin & History

Ochre is one of the earliest mineral pigments used by humans. Ochre powder has been excavated from the Upper Cave Man site dating back to China's Paleolithic Age. Burnt ochre, a deep warm color produced by calcining ochre, symbolizes early humanity's primal understanding of color.

During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, burnt ochre was used to fill patterns on bronze vessels and for pottery painting. Its heavy, iron-like color represented the solemnity of power and ritual. The oracle bone character for 'ochre' was itself a pictograph of rust's color.

In Han Dynasty murals, burnt ochre was extensively used for depicting earth, rocks, and skin tones, as seen in the silk paintings unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tombs in Changsha, where the color remains vibrant after two millennia.

In Tang Dynasty Dunhuang murals, burnt ochre was used for Buddha's robes and halos, paired with azurite and malachite to form strong contrasts, showcasing the solemnity and splendor of Buddhist art.

🧠 Color Psychology

SteadyCalcined burnt ochre possesses dual qualities of fire and earth, giving a sense of tested, unshakeable stability.

HeavyHigh color saturation and moderate brightness give it substantial visual weight, suitable for scenes needing to emphasize presence.

PrimalAs a color in prehistoric art, burnt ochre evokes associations with ancient eras and human origins.

WarmthAlthough a brown, it contains a high red component, carrying an introverted passion and vitality, not coldness.

CulturalA color spanning thousands of years of Chinese civilization, possessing deep cultural accumulation. Its use is a tribute to tradition.

StrengthColor associations with iron rust give a sense of toughness and fortitude, suitable for expressing an unyielding spirit.

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