The word Crimson was originally used to describe the color of Kermes dye, a substance derived from the tiny insect Kermes vermilio. Its hex code is #DC143C.
It is said to be the color of love and affection, and of course, it is also the color of Harvard and its infamous daily student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson.
If you’re looking to develop a color palette using crimson, consider looking to Victorian colors like deep bronze, maroons, or greens for an elegant and vintage look. For a more modern palette, combine crimson with pinks or with neutrals like sand dollar and beige.
Looking for a different hue? The following colors are related to crimson.
- Purple
- Red
- Rose red
Information about Crimson / #DC143C
In a RGB color space (made from three colored lights for red, green, and blue), hex #DC143C is made of 86.3% red, 7.8% green and 23.5% blue. In a CMYK color space (also known as process color, or four color, and used in color printing), hex #DC143C is made of 0% cyan, 91% magenta, 73% yellow and 14% black. Crimson has a hue angle of 348 degrees, a saturation of 83.3% and a lightness of 47.1%.
Color Conversion
The hexadecimal color #DC143C has RGB values of R: 86.3, G: 7.8, B: 23.5 and CMYK values of C: 0, M: 0.91, Y: 0.73, K:0.14.
History of Crimson
Interestingly, the introduction of the word crimson can be traced back as far as 1400 when it was made from the dried bodies of female kermes, a type of scale insect that feeds on the sap of evergreen oaks.
However, years later, as Spanish explorers made contact with the Aztec Indians, they discovered a hue derived from a tiny Mexican insect called cochineal.
From there, the harvesting of kermes was replaced by the harvesting of cochineal, which offers stronger color intensity than the former.
However, while the color crimson has long been present, its rise to popularity began in the Elizabethan Era. During that time, the color of one’s clothes helped label their status.
Specifically, the colors gold, silver, crimson, scarlet, deep indigo blue, and purple were only worn by the highest nobility in the land, as dictated by the Sumptuary laws of the country.
Because of this, the color crimson soon emerged as a symbol for nobility and luxury. In addition to that, since the church also stood as one of the primary authorities of the era, esteemed church figures were often seen wearing crimson robes.
From there, the color also becomes a symbol for divinity, mystery, and power.
Meaning of Crimson
Ever since the role it played in the Elizabethan era, the color crimson and the meaning it carries have undergone tremendously different changes.
Sure, while the color remains widely considered a strong religious symbol, it has, nonetheless, managed to embrace fresh new meanings as societies and cultures have changed.
To date, since crimson comes as a deeper and more vibrant version of red, it is often regarded as a symbol for vigor, passion, and courage.
Since it also resembles the color of blood, it has also been taken as a representation for anger, revenge, ruthlessness, and even lust.
At certain points in history, crimson has also been named a symbol for mourning, as heightened by the depth and mystery the color suggests.
What Colors Make Crimson
Since crimson resembles a reddish-purple, recreating it only requires simple color-mixing strategies. Specifically, you only need to mix pure red paint with some purple. However, depending on your desired result, the ratio of each paint color may vary.
If you want to attain a darker crimson, increasing the amount of red and purple might do the job.
However, if you want to attain a more vibrant hue, adding a small amount of white paint into the mixture might be the best alternative.
Crimson in Arts and Design
If you’re eyeing incorporating crimson in your art and designs, it’s best to know what other hues are best paired with it.
Generally, since crimson has been widely used as a symbol for luxury and sophistication, pairing it with colors such as bronze, maroon, or green will help you achieve an elegant and vintage look.
On the other hand, if you want to achieve a modern appeal, using neutral colors such as beige or sand-dollar might do the trick.
The Bottom Line
Strong, vivid, and powerful – that’s what crimson is. For years, the color has managed to carry tons of spectacular meanings that cut across statuses, emotions, and mysteries.
Whether you’re simply looking for ways to add more depth to your fashion or wanting to add more color options to your art, turning to crimson is sure to help you achieve whatever style and vibe you’re aiming for.
Now that you know what the meaning of crimson is you can use it many aspects of your life.