Cardinal
Also known as: Ruby Passion, True Red, Opening Ribbon, Ski Patrol
Cardinal is a medium, lively red that reads as passionate and urgent. It shines in 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.
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)
Color intelligence
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
warm
Nearest standard colors
- 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
Tints, shades, and tones of Cardinal
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
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
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 5.84:1
AA passAAA failAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 3.59:1
AA failAAA failAA large pass
Best text color on a Cardinal background: #ffffff
Palettes featuring Cardinal
Cardinal with its complement
Soft neighbors of Cardinal
Cardinal triad
Similar colors
- Pomodoro#C30232 · ΔE 1.9
- Toreador#CD123F · ΔE 2.1
- Lolita#BF2735 · ΔE 2.2
- Cherry#CF0234 · ΔE 2.3
- Red Tape#CC1133 · ΔE 2.3
- Bloodsport#B52F3A · ΔE 2.8
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Cardinal is closest to Jade Jewel.
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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