Tartan Red
Also known as: Cross My Heart , Madder Red , Baton Rouge , Fabulous Red
With its warm undertone, Tartan Red (#B1282A) comes across as bold and energetic. Designers reach for it in sale banners and sportswear. Because it leans warm, balancing it with a cyan keeps a palette from feeling one-note. On white it reads clearly at 6.55:1 contrast, safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Reference
Tartan Red color codes
- HEX
- #B1282A
- RGB
- rgb(177, 40, 42)
- RGBA
- rgba(177, 40, 42, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(359, 63%, 43%)
- HSV
- hsv(359, 77%, 69%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 77%, 76%, 31%)
- LAB
- lab(40.3 54.8 35.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(50.1% 0.173 25.5)
Analysis
Color intelligence
?
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
?
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 →
?
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: firebrick #B22222 · ΔE 1.7
- RAL 3000: Flame red #AB2524 · ΔE 1.7 · 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 Tartan 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: 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
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Tartan Red
?
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 →
?
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
?
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 →
?
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 Tartan 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 6.55:1
AA pass AAA fail AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 3.21:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large pass
Best text color on a Tartan Red background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Tartan Red
Tartan Red with its complement
Soft neighbors of Tartan Red
Tartan Red triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Toadstool #B8282F · ΔE 1.7
- Samba #AA262B · ΔE 1.8
- Red Carpet #BC2026 · ΔE 2.2
- Blood Rush #AA2222 · ΔE 2.2
- Desirable #A93435 · ΔE 2.9
- Hot Jazz #BC3033 · ΔE 3.0
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Tartan Red is closest to Prismarine .
FAQ
Tartan Red FAQs
What color is Tartan Red?
Tartan Red is a medium red with the hex code #B1282A. In HSL terms it has a hue of 359°, 63% saturation, and 43% lightness.
What is the hex code for Tartan Red?
The hex code for Tartan Red is #B1282A. In RGB it's rgb(177, 40, 42), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 77%, 76%, 31%).
What colors go well with Tartan Red?
Tartan Red pairs naturally with cyan 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.