International Orange (engineering)
HEX: #BA160C | Modern Palette
Color Specifications
#BA160C
186, 22, 12
3°, 93% ,72%
0, 88.17, 93.55, 27.06
About International Orange (engineering)
International Orange (engineering) (#BA160C) is a color with RGB(186, 22, 12) and HSL(3.45°, 93.55%, 72.94%). It is commonly associated with Bold, Playful moods. In design, it fits Neon, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #0CB0BA, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #0CBA16 and #160CBA. The name comes from International Orange (English).
- HEX: #BA160C
- RGB: 186, 22, 12
- HSL: 3.45°, 93.55%, 72.94%
- Mood: Bold, Playful
- Style: Neon, Warm
- Use case: Text, Button, Accent
- Complementary color: #0CB0BA
- Triadic colors: #0CBA16, #160CBA
- The name comes from International Orange (English).
Live Components
Color Palettes
Color Harmonies
Complementary
The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.
Analogous
Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
Triadic
Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.
Split-Complementary
Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.
Tetradic (Square)
Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.
Monochromatic
Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.
Shades & Tints
A seamless scale of #BA160C from deepest shade to lightest tint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Name, History & Etymology
History
The color 'International Orange' was specifically chosen by consulting architect Irving Morrow for the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He was inspired by the red lead primer that had been painted on the steel during fabrication. He found the color complemented the bridge's setting, blending with the natural environment (hills, sky, ocean) and providing excellent visibility in fog. It was preferred over more conventional choices like black or gray. The specific hex code #ba160c is a common representation of this color, though slight variations exist.
First Recorded Use
1930s (specifically for the Golden Gate Bridge)
Cultural Associations
International Orange is most famously associated with the Golden Gate Bridge, making it an iconic color for San Francisco and a symbol of engineering marvel. Its use on the bridge has cemented its identity as a color for large-scale, visible structures. It is also used in aerospace for certain components and in other industrial applications where high visibility is crucial.
Code Snippets
/* Background */
.element {
background-color: #BA160C;
}
/* Text */
.element {
color: #BA160C;
}
/* Border */
.element {
border: 1px solid #BA160C;
}
/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
background: linear-gradient(
to right,
#BA160C,
#79F3FB
);
}
/* Radial gradient */
.element {
background: radial-gradient(
circle,
#BA160C,
#79F3FB
);
}
// SCSS variable
$international-orange-(engineering): #BA160C;
// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$international-orange-(engineering)-r: 186;
$international-orange-(engineering)-g: 22;
$international-orange-(engineering)-b: 12;
// Usage
.element {
background-color: $international-orange-(engineering);
color: rgba($international-orange-(engineering)-r, $international-orange-(engineering)-g, $international-orange-(engineering)-b, 0.8);
}