Pesto
Also known as: Mulgore Mustard , Warm Olive , Lively Lime , Hep Green
Pesto is a medium, lively yellow that reads as sunny and uplifting. It earns its place in kids' apps and summer palettes. Its complement lands in blue territory, which makes for striking two-color pairings. Accessibility-wise, it needs a dark backdrop: 9.71:1 on black clears AA.
Reference
Pesto color codes
- HEX
- #C1B23E
- RGB
- rgb(193, 178, 62)
- RGBA
- rgba(193, 178, 62, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(53, 51%, 50%)
- HSV
- hsv(53, 68%, 76%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 8%, 68%, 24%)
- LAB
- lab(72.3 -4.3 58.4)
- OKLCH
- oklch(75.5% 0.135 101.9)
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: darkkhaki #BDB76B · ΔE 6.5
- RAL 1012: Lemon yellow #DDAF27 · ΔE 8.7 · 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 Pesto works
- Web & UI: Best as a button fill, badge, or accent. Pair it with white text only at large sizes, and check contrast.
- 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 Pesto
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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 Pesto 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 2.16:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 9.71:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Pesto background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Pesto
Pesto with its complement
Soft neighbors of Pesto
Pesto triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Hey Pesto #BEA932 · ΔE 2.9
- Greenfinch #BDA928 · ΔE 3.0
- Old Gold #CFB53B · ΔE 3.4
- Vegas Gold #C5B358 · ΔE 3.4
- Brass #B5A642 · ΔE 3.8
- Sulphur #CAB012 · ΔE 4.4
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Pesto is closest to Cold Lips .
FAQ
Pesto FAQs
What color is Pesto?
Pesto is a medium yellow with the hex code #C1B23E. In HSL terms it has a hue of 53°, 51% saturation, and 50% lightness.
What is the hex code for Pesto?
The hex code for Pesto is #C1B23E. In RGB it's rgb(193, 178, 62), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 8%, 68%, 24%).
What colors go well with Pesto?
Pesto pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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