What color is Carmine Red?
Carmine red is a vivid, pure red with a very slight cool shift, hex #FF0038, close to the color of a fresh pomegranate seed. It reads as bright and saturated without leaning toward orange or pink.
What is the meaning of the color Carmine Red?
Carmine pigment was first extracted from the dried bodies of cochineal insects harvested in Mexico, a trade the Spanish controlled after the conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. The name derives from the Medieval Latin carminium, itself linked to the Arabic qirmiz, referring to the kermes insect used in earlier red dyes across the Mediterranean. By the 17th century, cochineal-based carmine had become one of the most valuable trade goods shipped from the Americas to Europe, used to dye the red coats of British military uniforms. The pigment remains catalogued today in the Natural Color System and is classified under ASTM standards as a stable artist’s pigment.
What colors go with Carmine Red?
Colors that pair well with Carmine red include:
Ivory: softens without coldness
Navy blue: sharp, classic contrast
Charcoal: grounded, strong depth
Gold: warm, rich accent
Forest green: bold complementary balance
Similar Colors
Conversions & Codes
| Format | Value | CSS |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #FF0038 |
color: #FF0038;
|
| RGB | 255, 0, 56 |
color: rgb(255, 0, 56);
|
| RGB Percentage | 100%, 0%, 22% |
color: rgb(100%, 0%, 22%);
|
| CMYK | 0%, 100%, 78%, 0% | Not supported in CSS |
| HSL | 347°, 100%, 50% |
color: hsl(347, 100%, 50%);
|
| HSV | 347°, 100%, 100% | Not supported in CSS |
| CIE-LAB | 40, 51, -19 |
color: lab(40% 51 -19);
|
| Decimal | 16711736 | Not supported in CSS |
Color Variations
Shades
Tints
Tones
Hues
Color Harmonies
Analogous
Complementary
Split Complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square
CSS & Dev Snippets
.carmine-red {
color: #FF0038;
}
$carmine-red: #FF0038;
rgb(255, 0, 56)