Heavy Red
Also known as: Vampire Fiction , Bleeding Crimson , Spartan Crimson , Carnivore
Heavy Red is what happens when red turns rich and vivid. The effect is passionate and urgent, made for 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).
Reference
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)
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: 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, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- 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 Heavy Red
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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 Heavy Red 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 8.24:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 2.55:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Heavy Red background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Heavy Red
Heavy Red with its complement
Soft neighbors of Heavy Red
Heavy Red triad
Explore
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 .
FAQ
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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