Sepia

HEX: #704214 | Modern Palette

On White
8.47:1
PASS
On Black
2.48:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#704214
RGB
112, 66, 20
HSL
30°, 82% ,43%
CMYK
0, 41.07, 82.14, 56.08

About Sepia

Sepia (#704214) is a color with RGB(112, 66, 20) and HSL(30°, 82.14%, 43.92%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #144270, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #147042 and #421470. The name comes from σηπία (sēpía) (Ancient Greek).

  • HEX: #704214
  • RGB: 112, 66, 20
  • HSL: 30°, 82.14%, 43.92%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #144270
  • Triadic colors: #147042, #421470
  • The name comes from σηπία (sēpía) (Ancient Greek).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Sepia #704214 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
SEPIA
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
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Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Sepia #704214 pairs with #144270 as its complementary color, and #147042 and #421470 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

SEPIA
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

SEPIA
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

SEPIA
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

SEPIA
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

SEPIA
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

SEPIA

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Sepia #704214 moves from dark #160D04 tones through the base color to lighter #FBF2E9 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

SEPIA

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #53530F
Protanopia #494915
Tritanopia #723E3E
Achromatopsia #4D4D4D

Frequently Asked Questions

Sepia (#704214) is a color with RGB(112, 66, 20) and HSL(30°, 82.14%, 43.92%).

#704214 pairs strongly with #144270 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#704214 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#704214 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Sepia is linked to σηπία (sēpía) from Ancient Greek, meaning cuttlefish.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word σηπία (sēpía)
Meaning cuttlefish
Language Ancient Greek
First Recorded Use Late 18th Century

History

The word 'sepia' originates from the Ancient Greek word 'σηπία' (sēpía), which referred to the cuttlefish. Cuttlefish are known for expelling a dark brown ink as a defense mechanism. This ink was historically collected and used as a pigment for writing and drawing. The pigment, known for its rich reddish-brown hue, became particularly popular in the 18th and 19th centuries for monochrome drawings and photographs. The term 'sepia' then extended to describe the characteristic reddish-brown color itself, especially as seen in early photographic prints that were toned with sepia to improve their archival stability and aesthetic appeal.

First Recorded Use

1796

Cultural Associations

Sepia toning in photography became a popular technique in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It not only gave photographs a warm, antique look but also enhanced their longevity by converting the metallic silver in the print to a more stable silver sulfide. This is why many vintage photographs have that distinctive sepia tone. Beyond photography, sepia is often associated with a sense of nostalgia, age, and historical documentation. It's frequently used in art and design to evoke a classic or vintage aesthetic.

Similar Named Colors
Brown-nose #6B4423 ΔE 3.47
Pullman Brown (UPS Brown) #644117 ΔE 3.59
Chocolate (traditional) #7B3F00 ΔE 3.95
Dark Brown #654321 ΔE 4.17

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #704214;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #704214;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #704214;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #704214,
        #1470CC
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #704214,
        #1470CC
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$sepia: #704214;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$sepia-r: 112;
$sepia-g: 66;
$sepia-b: 20;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $sepia;
    color: rgba($sepia-r, $sepia-g, $sepia-b, 0.8);
}