Carnelian

HEX: #B31B1B | Modern Palette

On White
6.80:1
PASS
On Black
3.09:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#B31B1B
RGB
179, 27, 27
HSL
0°, 73% ,40%
CMYK
0, 85, 85, 30

About Carnelian

Carnelian (#B31B1B) is a color with RGB(179, 27, 27) and HSL(0°, 73.8%, 40.4%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Romantic moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #1BB3B3, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #1BB31B and #1B1BB3. The name comes from corneline (Old French).

  • HEX: #B31B1B
  • RGB: 179, 27, 27
  • HSL: 0°, 73.8%, 40.4%
  • Mood: Energetic, Romantic
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #1BB3B3
  • Triadic colors: #1BB31B, #1B1BB3
  • The name comes from corneline (Old French).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Carnelian #B31B1B 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.
 
 
CARNELIAN
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
CARNELIAN
 
 
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

Carnelian #B31B1B pairs with #1BB3B3 as its complementary color, and #1BB31B and #1B1BB3 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.

CARNELIAN
Analogous

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

CARNELIAN
Triadic

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

CARNELIAN
Split-Complementary

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

CARNELIAN
Tetradic (Square)

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

CARNELIAN
Monochromatic

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

CARNELIAN

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Carnelian #B31B1B moves from dark #160303 tones through the base color to lighter #FCE9E9 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

CARNELIAN

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Romantic
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #686804
Protanopia #45451E
Tritanopia #B31B1B
Achromatopsia #5B5B5B

Frequently Asked Questions

Carnelian (#B31B1B) is a color with RGB(179, 27, 27) and HSL(0°, 73.8%, 40.4%).

#B31B1B pairs strongly with #1BB3B3 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#B31B1B is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#B31B1B is commonly associated with Energetic, Romantic.

The name Carnelian is linked to corneline from Old French, meaning cornelian (stone).

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word corneline
Meaning cornelian (stone)
Language Old French
First Recorded Use Middle English

History

The word 'carnelian' comes from the Old French 'corneline', which itself is derived from the Latin 'corneolus'. This Latin term is a diminutive of 'corneus', meaning 'horny' or 'horn-like', referring to the stone's hardness and sometimes waxy luster. Another theory suggests a connection to 'cornum' (cornel cherry), due to the stone's reddish color resembling the fruit. The spelling 'carnelian' with an 'a' became more common later, possibly influenced by the Latin 'caro' (flesh), due to its flesh-like reddish-orange hues.

First Recorded Use

late 14th century

Cultural Associations

Ancient Egyptians believed carnelian aided the journey of the soul after death and used it in funerary jewelry. It was also associated with the goddess Isis. In ancient Rome, carnelian was widely used for signet rings and intaglios due to its durability and the fact that hot wax does not stick to it. It was believed to be a stone of courage, vitality, and creativity across various cultures. Islamic tradition holds that carnelian is a stone of great significance, with the Prophet Muhammad said to have worn a carnelian ring. In some traditions, carnelian is associated with the sacral chakra, promoting energy, passion, and joy.

Similar Named Colors
Firebrick #B22222 ΔE 1.35
International Orange (engineering) #BA160C ΔE 3.23
Upsdell Red #AE2029 ΔE 3.79
Venetian Red #C80815 ΔE 3.95

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #B31B1B;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #B31B1B;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #B31B1B;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #B31B1B,
        #1BB3B3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #B31B1B,
        #1BB3B3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$carnelian: #B31B1B;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$carnelian-r: 179;
$carnelian-g: 27;
$carnelian-b: 27;

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