Papyrus

#999911

Also known as: Turtle Moss , Pea Soup , Devil’s Flower Mantis , Old Asparagus

Papyrus brings a bright and alert feel to a palette. This rich yellow suits kids' apps and summer palettes. Match it with blue accents when the design calls for energy over calm. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (6.92:1), but avoid it as text on white.

Reference

Papyrus color codes

HEX: #999911
RGB: rgb(153, 153, 17)
RGBA: rgba(153, 153, 17, 1)
HSL: hsl(60, 80%, 33%)
HSV: hsv(60, 89%, 60%)
CMYK: cmyk(0%, 0%, 89%, 40%)
LAB: lab(61.6 -10.6 61.3)
OKLCH: oklch(66.1% 0.140 109.7)

Analysis

Color intelligence

sRGB safe

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

The subtle secondary bias in a color that seems neutral. A gray can have a blue or green undertone; a white can lean warm or cool. Undertones decide whether two near-neutrals clash or agree.Full glossary entry →

CoolWarm

warm

Nearest standard colors

?

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: olive #808000 · ΔE 8.8
RAL 1027: Curry #A77F0E · ΔE 13.8 · 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 Papyrus works

Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
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.
Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette: packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.

Copy as: every ecosystem

Variations

Tints, shades, and tones of Papyrus

?

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)

Tones (muted)

Harmonies

Color harmonies

?

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 Papyrus 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 3.04:1

AA fail AAA fail AA large pass

Aa on black

contrast 6.92:1

AA pass AAA fail AA large pass

Best text color on a Papyrus background: #000000

Palettes

Palettes featuring Papyrus

Papyrus with its complement

Soft neighbors of Papyrus

Papyrus triad

Explore

Similar colors

Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Papyrus is closest to Perrywinkle .

FAQ

Papyrus FAQs

What color is Papyrus?

Papyrus is a dark yellow with the hex code #999911. In HSL terms it has a hue of 60°, 80% saturation, and 33% lightness.

What is the hex code for Papyrus?

The hex code for Papyrus is #999911. In RGB it's rgb(153, 153, 17), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 0%, 89%, 40%).

What colors go well with Papyrus?

Papyrus pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.

Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer . Free, private, on your device.