Vermilion

HEX: #E34234 | Modern Palette

On White
4.12:1
FAIL
On Black
5.10:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#E34234
RGB
227, 66, 52
HSL
4°, 75% ,54%
CMYK
0, 71, 77, 11

About Vermilion

Vermilion (#E34234) is a color with RGB(227, 66, 52) and HSL(4.8°, 75.8%, 54.7%). 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 #34D5E3, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #34E342 and #4234E3. The name comes from vermeillon (French).

  • HEX: #E34234
  • RGB: 227, 66, 52
  • HSL: 4.8°, 75.8%, 54.7%
  • Mood: Energetic, Romantic
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #34D5E3
  • Triadic colors: #34E342, #4234E3
  • The name comes from vermeillon (French).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Vermilion #E34234 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.
 
 
VERMILION
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
VERMILION
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
VERMILION
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Vermilion #E34234 pairs with #34D5E3 as its complementary color, and #34E342 and #4234E3 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.

VERMILION
Analogous

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

VERMILION
Triadic

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

VERMILION
Split-Complementary

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

VERMILION
Tetradic (Square)

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

VERMILION
Monochromatic

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

VERMILION

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Vermilion #E34234 moves from dark #160503 tones through the base color to lighter #FCEAE9 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

VERMILION

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Romantic
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #8C8C25
Protanopia #666636
Tritanopia #E34040
Achromatopsia #7D7D7D

Frequently Asked Questions

Vermilion (#E34234) is a color with RGB(227, 66, 52) and HSL(4.8°, 75.8%, 54.7%).

#E34234 pairs strongly with #34D5E3 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#E34234 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#E34234 is commonly associated with Energetic, Romantic.

The name Vermilion is linked to vermeillon from French, meaning a bright red pigment.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word vermeillon
Meaning a bright red pigment
Language French
First Recorded Use Medieval

History

The word 'vermilion' comes from Old French 'vermeillon', which is a diminutive of 'vermeil' (red). 'Vermeil' itself derives from Latin 'vermiculus', meaning 'little worm'. This refers to the insect 'Kermes vermilio', from which a red dye was extracted. The pigment vermilion, a brilliant red, was originally made from powdered cinnabar (mercuric sulfide). It was highly prized in ancient Rome, China, and India for its vibrant color and was used extensively in art, manuscripts, and decorative items. Its use continued through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, though its toxicity (due to mercury content) led to its eventual replacement by safer synthetic pigments in many applications.

First Recorded Use

13th Century

Cultural Associations

In ancient China, vermilion was considered the color of life and immortality, often used in imperial seals, temples, and traditional lacquerware. It was a significant color in Roman frescoes and murals, symbolizing power and wealth. In medieval European illuminated manuscripts, vermilion was frequently used for initial letters and borders. The color has strong associations with fire, passion, and energy across various cultures.

Similar Named Colors
CG Red #E03C31 ΔE 1.37
Carmine Pink #EB4C42 ΔE 3.30
Red (pigment) #ED1C24 ΔE 3.52
Deep Carmine Pink #EF3038 ΔE 3.55

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #E34234;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #E34234;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #E34234;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #E34234,
        #34D5E3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #E34234,
        #34D5E3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$vermilion: #E34234;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$vermilion-r: 227;
$vermilion-g: 66;
$vermilion-b: 52;

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