Cardinal
Also known as: Ruby Passion , True Red , Opening Ribbon , Ski Patrol
Cardinal brings a passionate and urgent feel to a palette. This medium red suits call-to-action buttons and food branding. Its complement lands in cyan territory, which makes for striking two-color pairings. On white it reads clearly at 5.84:1 contrast, safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Reference
Cardinal color codes
- HEX
- #C41E3A
- RGB
- rgb(196, 30, 58)
- RGBA
- rgba(196, 30, 58, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(350, 73%, 44%)
- HSV
- hsv(350, 85%, 77%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 85%, 70%, 23%)
- LAB
- lab(43.5 63.3 30.1)
- OKLCH
- oklch(53.1% 0.197 19.5)
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. Vivid colors like this typically lose some intensity in CMYK print. Request a physical proof for brand-critical work.
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: crimson #DC143C · ΔE 4.7
- RAL 3031: Orient red #AC323B · ΔE 4.3 · 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 Cardinal works
- Web & UI: Dark enough for body text and icons on white backgrounds. It passes WCAG AA as-is.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece, a top, scarf, or shoes, against neutral basics.
- Branding: High-energy brand material: strong for food, fitness, and youth-facing marks. Use sparingly in UI.
- Web & UI: Best as a button fill, badge, or accent. Pair it with white text only at large sizes, and check contrast.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Cardinal
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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 Cardinal 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 5.84:1
AA pass AAA fail AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 3.59:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large pass
Best text color on a Cardinal background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Cardinal
Cardinal with its complement
Soft neighbors of Cardinal
Cardinal triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Pomodoro #C30232 · ΔE 1.9
- Toreador #CD123F · ΔE 2.1
- Cherry #CF0234 · ΔE 2.3
- Red Tape #CC1133 · ΔE 2.3
- Bloodsport #B52F3A · ΔE 2.8
- Akari Red #C90B42 · ΔE 3.1
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Cardinal is closest to Jade Jewel .
FAQ
Cardinal FAQs
What color is Cardinal?
Cardinal is a medium red with the hex code #C41E3A. In HSL terms it has a hue of 350°, 73% saturation, and 44% lightness.
What is the hex code for Cardinal?
The hex code for Cardinal is #C41E3A. In RGB it's rgb(196, 30, 58), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 85%, 70%, 23%).
What colors go well with Cardinal?
Cardinal pairs naturally with cyan tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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