Cadmium Yellow
HEX: #FFF600 | Modern Palette
Color Specifications
#FFF600
255, 246, 0
57°, 100% ,50%
0, 4, 100, 0
About Cadmium Yellow
Cadmium Yellow (#FFF600) is a color with RGB(255, 246, 0) and HSL(57.9°, 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 #0009FF, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #00FFF6 and #F600FF. The name comes from Cadmium Yellow (English).
- HEX: #FFF600
- RGB: 255, 246, 0
- HSL: 57.9°, 100%, 50%
- Mood: Energetic, Bold
- Style: Vivid, Warm
- Use case: Text, Button, Accent
- Complementary color: #0009FF
- Triadic colors: #00FFF6, #F600FF
- The name comes from Cadmium Yellow (English).
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 #FFF600 from deepest shade to lightest tint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Name, History & Etymology
History
Cadmium was discovered in 1817 by German chemist Friedrich Stromeyer. Its potential as a pigment, specifically cadmium sulfide, was recognized shortly after. Early cadmium yellow pigments were expensive and not widely available until the mid-19th century. It quickly gained popularity among artists due to its vibrant, opaque yellow hue, excellent lightfastness, and resistance to fading, making it superior to many earlier yellow pigments like Indian Yellow or Naples Yellow. Its use became widespread in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting. Concerns about its toxicity (due to cadmium content) have led to the development of safer alternatives, though it remains a staple in many artists' palettes.
First Recorded Use
1817 (discovery of cadmium), 1820s-1840s (pigment development and use)
Cultural Associations
Cadmium Yellow is renowned for its brilliant, sunny, and often intense yellow. It is strongly associated with the vibrant palettes of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters like Vincent van Gogh, who famously used it in his 'Sunflowers' series. Its luminosity allows artists to capture the warmth of sunlight, the richness of harvest fields, or the bright glow of artificial light. It evokes feelings of joy, energy, and optimism, but can also be used to depict caution or danger due to its association with the element cadmium.
Code Snippets
/* Background */
.element {
background-color: #FFF600;
}
/* Text */
.element {
color: #FFF600;
}
/* Border */
.element {
border: 1px solid #FFF600;
}/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
background: linear-gradient(
to right,
#FFF600,
#0009FF
);
}
/* Radial gradient */
.element {
background: radial-gradient(
circle,
#FFF600,
#0009FF
);
}// SCSS variable
$cadmium-yellow: #FFF600;
// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$cadmium-yellow-r: 255;
$cadmium-yellow-g: 246;
$cadmium-yellow-b: 0;
// Usage
.element {
background-color: $cadmium-yellow;
color: rgba($cadmium-yellow-r, $cadmium-yellow-g, $cadmium-yellow-b, 0.8);
}