RAL and NCS values are nearest equivalents, not official designations.
In many cultures, vermilion symbolizes luck and prosperity, particularly in Chinese tradition where it is used in weddings and celebrations. Conversely, in Western contexts, it can evoke feelings of passion and danger, showcasing its dual nature.
The term 'vermillion' originates from the Latin 'vermiculus', meaning 'little worm', referencing the red dye made from crushed cochineal insects, used as early as the 8th century. By the 15th century, it became a staple for artists, notably used by painters like Titian and Raphael.
Ranked by CIE76 ΔE — the perceptual distance from Vermilion. Lower ΔE means a closer match (below ~2 is barely distinguishable).
All 33 Reds →Nine steps of Vermilion by lightness — from #76221B (darkest) to #F09D95 (lightest). Click any to copy.
Sitting opposite Vermilion at 185° on the color wheel, these give the highest-contrast pairings.
Curated 5-color combinations featuring Vermilion.
A 50–900 tonal scale with Vermilion anchored at 500 — ready to drop into a design system. Click any step to copy.
Works well as text on dark backgrounds; fails on light.
Thresholds: AA needs 4.5:1 (normal text) / 3:1 (large); AAA needs 7:1 / 4.5:1. Large = 18pt+ or 14pt+ bold.
Copy-ready values for CSS, screen and print, plus the extra conversions designers reach for.
color: #E34234; color-mix(in srgb, #E34234 70%, white) 5°, 77%, 89% 0, 71, 77, 11 14893620 #CC3333 How Vermilion appears to viewers with the three main types of color blindness (~1 in 12 men, 1 in 200 women). Simulated approximations.