Carmine

Cochineal red introduced from the Americas, rich with a purple tone; a painting pigment

HEX#D2376A

RGBrgb(210, 55, 106)

HSLhsl(340, 63%, 52%)

HSVhsv(340, 74%, 82%)

CMYKcmyk(0%, 74%, 50%, 18%)

HEXA#D2376AFF

RGBArgba(210, 55, 106, 1)

HSLAhsla(340, 63%, 52%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(72.9%, 0.139, 354)

LCHlch(66.5%, 40.3, 346)

🎨 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

#FFFFFFRatio 4.7:1AA

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

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Standard Text

#FEFBFBRatio 4.5:1AA

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

Aa14px Body

Large Text / UI Components

#E6CB93Ratio 3:1AA Large

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

Aa14px Body

Decorative / Dividers

#6BD237Ratio 2.4:1Fail

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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#851E40

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

#AD5C77

#B95073

#C5446F

#D2376B

#DE2B67

#EA1F63

#F6135F

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation adjustment

#62273B

#852E4B

#AA315A

#CE3669

#DC507F

#E86D96

#F28DAE

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

#D23791

#D23785

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💡 Use Cases

🎨

Oil Paint

Carmine is an essential high-grade color for watercolor and oil painting, with excellent transparency and tinting strength—magical for painting petals and silk.

👗

Designer Fashion

A carmine gown is a safe bet for the red carpet. As Yves Saint Laurent's signature color, wearing it signals that you truly understand fashion.

💄

Alluring Lipstick

Carmine lipstick is more charming than bright red. Wearing it brings a Hong Kong cinema-style filter; it's the beloved shade of Hong Kong actresses and K-drama heroines.

📖

Baroque Art Books

Art books with carmine covers open into the magnificent world of Rubens. A treasure for art lovers' collections.

📜 Origin & History

Carmine originates from the American cochineal insect. Female insects living on cacti contain carminic acid; when dried, they yield a brilliant red dye. The Aztec civilization had used cochineal red for over a thousand years.

In the 16th century, Spanish colonizers brought cochineal red back to Europe. Its vividness far exceeded Europe's native madder red, quickly becoming the top choice for aristocratic fabrics and painters' pigments, valued as highly as gold.

During the Baroque period, carmine shone brightly in painting. Rubens and Velázquez heavily used carmine to depict the magnificent robes and silken sheen of royalty. Carmine was the exclusive color of the noble class.

In the 18th century, British officer uniforms adopted a carmine shade, known as 'British Red'. During the American Revolutionary War, the British soldiers' bright red coats were so conspicuous in the jungle that they became live targets for snipers.

After the invention of synthetic dyes in the 19th century, carmine's cost dropped, making it a darling of the fashion world. Yves Saint Laurent's signature carmine is one of the most iconic fashion colors of the 20th century.

🧠 Color Psychology

Luxurious and RichCarmine is highly saturated with a purple hue, like the clinging film of aged red wine on a glass—so rich it seems undiluted, the embodiment of ultimate luxury.

Exotic FlavorCarmine comes from the distant Americas, carrying mystical imaginings of cacti and pyramids, full of exotic allure.

Artistic PassionThe carmine silk painted by Baroque masters is full of dramatic tension. This color itself is like a passionate symphony.

Feminine PowerMore mature than pink, more charming than red, carmine is the 'armor' color for women displaying strength and charm in the workplace and life.

Noble and CoolThe purple tone brings a sense of distance; it is a cool, aloof nobility, hard to approach yet making one want to explore further.

Revolutionary SpiritFrom dye to pigment to fashion, carmine breaks old orders with every appearance. It is a revolutionary in the world of color.

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