Heavy Red
Also known as: Vampire Fiction, Bleeding Crimson, Spartan Crimson, Carnivore
Heavy Red sits on the warm side of the spectrum: a vivid red that feels passionate and urgent. Try it in sportswear and call-to-action buttons. Its complement lands in cyan territory, which makes for striking two-color pairings. It's dark enough to use for text on white backgrounds (8.24:1, passes WCAG AA).
Heavy Red color codes
- HEX
- #9E1212
- RGB
- rgb(158, 18, 18)
- RGBA
- rgba(158, 18, 18, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(0, 80%, 35%)
- HSV
- hsv(0, 89%, 62%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 89%, 89%, 38%)
- LAB
- lab(34.1 54.1 41.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(44.7% 0.172 27.9)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
warm
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: darkred#8B0000 · ΔE 4.5
- RAL 3000 — Flame red#AB2524 · 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 Heavy Red 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: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, empty-state illustrations — not text.
- 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 Heavy Red
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Heavy Red 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 8.24:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 2.55:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Best text color on a Heavy Red background: #ffffff
Palettes featuring Heavy Red
Heavy Red with its complement
Soft neighbors of Heavy Red
Heavy Red triad
Similar colors
- Carnivore#991111 · ΔE 1.0
- Chorizo#AA0011 · ΔE 2.2
- Emergency#911911 · ΔE 2.5
- Gory Red#A30800 · ΔE 3.3
- Socialist#921A1C · ΔE 3.5
- Tabasco#A02712 · ΔE 3.6
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Heavy Red is closest to Pacific.
Heavy Red FAQs
What color is Heavy Red?
Heavy Red is a dark red with the hex code #9E1212. In HSL terms it has a hue of 0°, 80% saturation, and 35% lightness.
What is the hex code for Heavy Red?
The hex code for Heavy Red is #9E1212. In RGB it's rgb(158, 18, 18), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 89%, 89%, 38%).
What colors go well with Heavy Red?
Heavy Red pairs naturally with cyan tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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