Bittersweet
Also known as: Tangerine Tango , Off-The-Leash Orange , Sunshade , Au Gratin
Bittersweet is a soft, vivid orange that reads as warm and inviting. It earns its place in autumn palettes and friendly UI accents. For contrast, pair it with a blue from its complementary palette below. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (10.36:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Reference
Bittersweet color codes
- HEX
- #FEA051
- RGB
- rgb(254, 160, 81)
- RGBA
- rgba(254, 160, 81, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(27, 99%, 66%)
- HSV
- hsv(27, 68%, 100%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 37%, 68%, 0%)
- LAB
- lab(74.7 31.1 55.2)
- OKLCH
- oklch(78.7% 0.146 58.2)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
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warm
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: sandybrown #F4A460 · ΔE 2.7
- RAL 1034: Pastel yellow #EB9C52 · ΔE 3.6 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck. Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Bittersweet works
- Web & UI: Reads as an interactive accent: fills, hovers, focus rings. Keep body text in a darker neutral.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land: a front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
- Branding: Commands attention in logos and packaging; balance it with generous neutral space.
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
- Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette: packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Bittersweet
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Bittersweet by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 2.03:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 10.36:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Bittersweet background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Bittersweet
Bittersweet with its complement
Soft neighbors of Bittersweet
Bittersweet triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Rajah #FBAB60 · ΔE 3.4
- Furry Lion #F09338 · ΔE 4.2
- Ridgeback #EF985C · ΔE 4.4
- Apricot #FFB16D · ΔE 4.6
- Five Star #FFAA4A · ΔE 4.9
- Dragon Ball #FF9922 · ΔE 5.1
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Bittersweet is closest to Blue Mana .
FAQ
Bittersweet FAQs
What color is Bittersweet?
Bittersweet is a medium orange with the hex code #FEA051. In HSL terms it has a hue of 27°, 99% saturation, and 66% lightness.
What is the hex code for Bittersweet?
The hex code for Bittersweet is #FEA051. In RGB it's rgb(254, 160, 81), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 37%, 68%, 0%).
What colors go well with Bittersweet?
Bittersweet pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony, and with cyan accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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