Red vs Crimson

Red #FF0000 View details →

Crimson #DC143C View details →

What is the difference between Red and Crimson?

Examining Red (#FF0000) relative to Crimson (#DC143C) showcases key differences in design application. Red stands out as the more vivid and colorful shade of the two. There is virtually no difference in brightness between these two tones. With a substantial hue separation of 348°, they yield a striking offset.

Design recommendations for Red vs Crimson

Integrating Red and Crimson requires balancing dark and light elements. Utilize the depth of Crimson to provide strong contrast and visual structure, and pair it with Red on card backgrounds or subtle link accents to keep the user interface fresh and readable.

✦ Readability & Contrast Testing

Visual test showing black and white text overlay readability on both colors.

Red Typography

Preview of dark and light text elements rendered over a solid Red background canvas.

White Text: 4.00:1 Black Text: 5.25:1

Crimson Typography

Preview of dark and light text elements rendered over a solid Crimson background canvas.

White Text: 4.99:1 Black Text: 4.21:1

⚙ Technical Specifications Comparison

Format / Value	Red	Crimson	Delta / Difference
HEX Code	`#FF0000`	`#DC143C`	-
RGB Channels	`rgb(255, 0, 0)`	`rgb(220, 20, 60)`	`R:-35 \| G:+20 \| B:+60`
HSL Values	`hsl(0°, 100%, 50%)`	`hsl(348°, 83%, 47%)`	`H:+348° \| S:-17% \| L:-3%`
CMYK (Print)	`cmyk(0%, 100%, 100%, 0%)`	`cmyk(0%, 91%, 73%, 14%)`	-

◉ Individual Color References

Red Reference Sheet HEX, RGB, HSL and print codes

Crimson Reference Sheet HEX, RGB, HSL and print codes