Cardinal
HEX: #C41E3A | Modern Palette
Color Specifications
#C41E3A
196, 30, 58
349°, 73% ,44%
0, 85, 70, 23
About Cardinal
Cardinal (#C41E3A) is a color with RGB(196, 30, 58) and HSL(349.9°, 73.5%, 44.3%). 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 #1EC4A8, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #3AC41E and #1E3AC4. The name comes from cardinalis (Latin).
- HEX: #C41E3A
- RGB: 196, 30, 58
- HSL: 349.9°, 73.5%, 44.3%
- Mood: Energetic, Romantic
- Style: Vivid, Warm
- Use case: Text, Button, Accent
- Complementary color: #1EC4A8
- Triadic colors: #3AC41E, #1E3AC4
- The name comes from cardinalis (Latin).
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 #C41E3A from deepest shade to lightest tint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Name, History & Etymology
History
The word 'cardinal' derives from the Latin 'cardinalis', an adjective meaning 'pertaining to a hinge' or 'principal, chief'. This sense of 'principal' or 'fundamental' is key to its various applications. In the ecclesiastical sense, a Cardinal (of the Roman Catholic Church) was originally a priest of a principal church in Rome, or a bishop of one of the suburban sees. The color red became associated with cardinals as a symbol of their willingness to shed blood for Christ and the Church. The bird 'cardinal' (specifically the Northern Cardinal) was named for the male's brilliant red plumage, reminiscent of the robes worn by cardinals of the church. The color 'cardinal red' or simply 'cardinal' as a color name directly refers to this specific shade of red.
First Recorded Use
late 14th century
Cultural Associations
The color 'Cardinal' (#c41e3a) is a deep, vivid red. It is strongly associated with the Roman Catholic Church, particularly the vestments of cardinals. Beyond its religious connotations, it is a popular color in sports, often used by teams whose mascots are the cardinal bird (e.g., St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, Arizona Cardinals football team). It conveys a sense of importance, vibrancy, and sometimes passion or power due to its historical and ecclesiastical associations.
Code Snippets
/* Background */
.element {
background-color: #C41E3A;
}
/* Text */
.element {
color: #C41E3A;
}
/* Border */
.element {
border: 1px solid #C41E3A;
}/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
background: linear-gradient(
to right,
#C41E3A,
#1EC4A8
);
}
/* Radial gradient */
.element {
background: radial-gradient(
circle,
#C41E3A,
#1EC4A8
);
}// SCSS variable
$cardinal: #C41E3A;
// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$cardinal-r: 196;
$cardinal-g: 30;
$cardinal-b: 58;
// Usage
.element {
background-color: $cardinal;
color: rgba($cardinal-r, $cardinal-g, $cardinal-b, 0.8);
}