Crimson Red

HEX: #990000 | Modern Palette

On White
8.92:1
PASS
On Black
2.35:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#990000
RGB
153, 0, 0
HSL
0°, 100% ,60%
CMYK
0, 100, 100, 40

About Crimson Red

Crimson Red (#990000) is a color with RGB(153, 0, 0) and HSL(0°, 100%, 60%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Neon styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #009999, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #009900 and #000099. The name comes from Crimson Red (English).

  • HEX: #990000
  • RGB: 153, 0, 0
  • HSL: 0°, 100%, 60%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Neon
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #009999
  • Triadic colors: #009900, #000099
  • The name comes from Crimson Red (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Crimson Red #990000 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.
 
CRIMSON RED
RED
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
CRIMSON RED
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
RED
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Crimson Red #990000 pairs with #009999 as its complementary color, and #009900 and #000099 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.

CRIMSON RED
Analogous

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

CRIMSON RED
Triadic

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

CRIMSON RED
Split-Complementary

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

CRIMSON RED
Tetradic (Square)

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

CRIMSON RED
Monochromatic

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

CRIMSON RED

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Crimson Red #990000 moves from dark #1A0000 tones through the base color to lighter #FFE6E6 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

MAROON
CRIMSON RED

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Neon
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #565600
Protanopia #343405
Tritanopia #990000
Achromatopsia #4A4A4A

Frequently Asked Questions

Crimson Red (#990000) is a color with RGB(153, 0, 0) and HSL(0°, 100%, 60%).

#990000 pairs strongly with #009999 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#990000 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Neon styles.

#990000 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Crimson Red is linked to Crimson Red from English, meaning A deep, vivid red color, often with a slight purplish tinge, historically associated with the kermes dye..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Crimson Red
Meaning A deep, vivid red color, often with a slight purplish tinge, historically associated with the kermes dye.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late Middle English

History

The word 'crimson' itself comes from Old Spanish 'cremesin', which in turn derives from Arabic 'qirmiz' (kermes), referring to the insect from which the dye was obtained. This dye was highly prized and expensive, making crimson a color of royalty, power, and luxury for centuries. The addition of 'Red' to 'Crimson' is often for emphasis or clarification, as crimson is a specific shade of red. Historically, crimson dyes were among the most stable and vibrant reds available before synthetic dyes.

First Recorded Use

14th Century (for 'crimson')

Cultural Associations

Royalty and Nobility: Widely used in royal robes, heraldry, and aristocratic attire across Europe. Religion: Associated with the blood of Christ in Christianity, often seen in vestments and religious art. Passion and Love: Like other reds, it symbolizes intense emotions, love, and desire. War and Sacrifice: Due to its blood-like appearance, it can represent war, sacrifice, and courage. Academic Dress: Often used for doctoral robes in certain fields, particularly in the UK and Commonwealth countries. Sports Teams: A popular color for sports teams and university colors, conveying strength and energy.

Similar Named Colors
Dark Candy Apple Red #A40000 ΔE 2.19
Sangria #92000A ΔE 2.69
Dark Red #8B0000 ΔE 2.81
Spartan Crimson #9E1316 ΔE 3.81

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #990000;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #990000;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #990000;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #990000,
        #33FFFF
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #990000,
        #33FFFF
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$crimson-red: #990000;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$crimson-red-r: 153;
$crimson-red-g: 0;
$crimson-red-b: 0;

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