Indian Yellow
HEX: #E3A857 | Modern Palette
Color Specifications
#E3A857
227, 168, 87
34°, 71% ,61%
0, 26, 62, 11
About Indian Yellow
Indian Yellow (#E3A857) is a color with RGB(227, 168, 87) and HSL(34.7°, 71.4%, 61.6%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Playful moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #5792E3, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #57E3A8 and #A857E3. The name comes from Indian Yellow (English).
- HEX: #E3A857
- RGB: 227, 168, 87
- HSL: 34.7°, 71.4%, 61.6%
- Mood: Energetic, Playful
- Style: Vivid, Warm
- Use case: Text, Button, Accent
- Complementary color: #5792E3
- Triadic colors: #57E3A8, #A857E3
- The name comes from Indian Yellow (English).
Live Components
Color Palettes
Indian Yellow #E3A857 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.
Color Harmonies
Indian Yellow #E3A857 pairs with #5792E3 as its complementary color, and #57E3A8 and #A857E3 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Name, History & Etymology
History
Indian Yellow was a vibrant, transparent, and lightfast yellow pigment that gained popularity in European art during the late 18th and 19th centuries. Its exact origin and manufacturing process were a mystery to Europeans for a long time. It was eventually discovered that the pigment was produced in rural India, specifically in the Munger district of Bihar, from the urine of cows fed exclusively on mango leaves and water. The urine was collected, heated, and the resulting yellow precipitate (magnesium euxanthate) was formed into balls or cakes and dried over a fire. These balls were then exported. Due to concerns about animal cruelty and the nutritional deprivation of the cows, the production of genuine Indian Yellow was banned in India in the early 20th century (around 1908-1921, sources vary). Modern 'Indian Yellow' paints are now made from synthetic organic pigments that mimic the hue and transparency of the original.
First Recorded Use
Circa 1780s (as a pigment in Europe)
Cultural Associations
The pigment was highly valued by artists for its unique warm, glowing quality and transparency, making it ideal for glazes and capturing light effects. It was used by prominent artists like J.M.W. Turner, Vincent van Gogh, and John Singer Sargent. The exotic and somewhat mysterious origin added to its allure. The ethical concerns surrounding its production highlight a historical intersection of art materials, trade, and animal welfare.
Similar Named Colors
Code Snippets
/* Background */
.element {
background-color: #E3A857;
}
/* Text */
.element {
color: #E3A857;
}
/* Border */
.element {
border: 1px solid #E3A857;
}/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
background: linear-gradient(
to right,
#E3A857,
#5792E3
);
}
/* Radial gradient */
.element {
background: radial-gradient(
circle,
#E3A857,
#5792E3
);
}// SCSS variable
$indian-yellow: #E3A857;
// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$indian-yellow-r: 227;
$indian-yellow-g: 168;
$indian-yellow-b: 87;
// Usage
.element {
background-color: $indian-yellow;
color: rgba($indian-yellow-r, $indian-yellow-g, $indian-yellow-b, 0.8);
}