Alizarin Crimson

HEX: #E32636 | Modern Palette

On White
4.57:1
PASS
On Black
4.60:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#E32636
RGB
227, 38, 54
HSL
354°, 77% ,52%
CMYK
0, 83, 76, 11

About Alizarin Crimson

Alizarin Crimson (#E32636) is a color with RGB(227, 38, 54) and HSL(354.9°, 77.1%, 52%). 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 #26E3D3, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #36E326 and #2636E3. The name comes from al-ʿaṣāra (Arabic).

  • HEX: #E32636
  • RGB: 227, 38, 54
  • HSL: 354.9°, 77.1%, 52%
  • Mood: Energetic, Romantic
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #26E3D3
  • Triadic colors: #36E326, #2636E3
  • The name comes from al-ʿaṣāra (Arabic).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
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

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 #E32636 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Romantic
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #868627
Protanopia #595939
Tritanopia #E32828
Achromatopsia #767676

Frequently Asked Questions

Alizarin Crimson (#E32636) is a color with RGB(227, 38, 54) and HSL(354.9°, 77.1%, 52%).

#E32636 pairs strongly with #26E3D3 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#E32636 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#E32636 is commonly associated with Energetic, Romantic.

The name Alizarin Crimson is linked to al-ʿaṣāra from Arabic, meaning The juice or extract, referring to the dye obtained from the madder root..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word al-ʿaṣāra
Meaning The juice or extract, referring to the dye obtained from the madder root.
Language Arabic
First Recorded Use 19th Century

History

Alizarin, the core pigment, was originally derived from the madder plant (Rubia tinctorum), used for dyeing since antiquity. In 1868, German chemists Carl Graebe and Carl Liebermann synthesized alizarin, making it one of the first natural dyes to be artificially produced. This synthetic alizarin quickly replaced natural madder in textile dyeing and artists' pigments due to its consistency and lower cost. Alizarin Crimson, specifically, refers to a lake pigment made from synthetic alizarin, known for its deep, transparent red hue.

First Recorded Use

The term 'Alizarin Crimson' emerged in the late 19th century following the synthetic production of alizarin, a red dye component.

Cultural Associations

The development of synthetic alizarin revolutionized the dye industry, making vibrant, lightfast reds more accessible and affordable. It significantly impacted textile production and fine art, offering artists a stable and intense crimson previously difficult to achieve. Its widespread adoption marked a pivotal moment in the history of industrial chemistry and color manufacturing.

Similar Named Colors
Medium Candy Apple Red #E2062C ΔE 2.23
Imperial Red #ED2939 ΔE 2.29
Jasper #D73B3E ΔE 2.40
Spanish Red #E60026 ΔE 2.89

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #E32636;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #E32636;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #E32636;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #E32636,
        #26E3D3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #E32636,
        #26E3D3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$alizarin-crimson: #E32636;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$alizarin-crimson-r: 227;
$alizarin-crimson-g: 38;
$alizarin-crimson-b: 54;

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