Carmine

HEX: #FF0040 | Modern Palette

On White
3.94:1
FAIL
On Black
5.33:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#FF0040
RGB
255, 0, 64
HSL
344°, 100% ,50%
CMYK
0, 100, 75, 0

About Carmine

Carmine (#FF0040) is a color with RGB(255, 0, 64) and HSL(344.9°, 100%, 50%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #00FFBF, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #40FF00 and #0040FF. The name comes from carminus (Latin).

  • HEX: #FF0040
  • RGB: 255, 0, 64
  • HSL: 344.9°, 100%, 50%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #00FFBF
  • Triadic colors: #40FF00, #0040FF
  • The name comes from carminus (Latin).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Carmine #FF0040 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.
 
 
CARMINE
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
CARMINE
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
CARMINE
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Carmine #FF0040 pairs with #00FFBF as its complementary color, and #40FF00 and #0040FF 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.

CARMINE
Analogous

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

CARMINE
Triadic

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

CARMINE
Split-Complementary

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

CARMINE
DEEP SKY BLUE
Tetradic (Square)

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

CARMINE
LIME
Monochromatic

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

CARMINE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Carmine #FF0040 moves from dark #1A0006 tones through the base color to lighter #FFE6EC tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

CARMINE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #939330
Protanopia #5D5D43
Tritanopia #FE1313
Achromatopsia #808080

Frequently Asked Questions

Carmine (#FF0040) is a color with RGB(255, 0, 64) and HSL(344.9°, 100%, 50%).

#FF0040 pairs strongly with #00FFBF as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#FF0040 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#FF0040 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Carmine is linked to carminus from Latin, meaning crimson.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word carminus
Meaning crimson
Language Latin
First Recorded Use Medieval

History

The word 'carmine' ultimately derives from the Medieval Latin 'carminus', which itself comes from the Arabic 'qirmiz' (crimson), referring to the kermes insect from which a red dye was obtained. This Arabic word has roots in Sanskrit 'krmi-ja' meaning 'produced by a worm'. The term entered English in the 16th century, specifically referring to a vivid crimson pigment made from cochineal insects. Cochineal dye was highly valued and traded, especially after the Spanish conquest of Mexico, where the insects were cultivated. The pigment was used extensively in art, textiles, and cosmetics.

First Recorded Use

16th century (English)

Cultural Associations

Carmine is a rich, vibrant red, often with a purplish tinge. It is strongly associated with luxury, passion, and royalty due to its historical use as a high-value dye. In art, carmine pigments were prized for their intensity and permanence. It is also a common color in cosmetics, particularly lipsticks and blushes, for its flattering and striking hue. The color can evoke feelings of drama, energy, and sophistication.

Similar Named Colors
Electric Crimson #FF003F ΔE 0.24
American Rose #FF033E ΔE 0.56
Carmine Red #FF0038 ΔE 1.91
Red (Munsell) #F2003C ΔE 2.76

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #FF0040;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #FF0040;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #FF0040;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #FF0040,
        #00FFBF
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #FF0040,
        #00FFBF
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$carmine: #FF0040;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$carmine-r: 255;
$carmine-g: 0;
$carmine-b: 64;

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