# #dc281e

A color — warm, vivid, playful, bold. Deterministic analysis from BrandSweets (no inference).

## Values

- Hex: `#dc281e`
- RGB: rgb(220, 40, 30)
- HSL: hsl(3, 76%, 49%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.578 0.215 29.1)
- Relative luminance: 0.1683
- Nearest named color: Angry Tomato (#d82029, Δ 1.636) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/angry-tomato
- Moods: warm, vivid, playful, bold
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/dc281e

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #e33931, #e64f47, #e9645d, #ec7a74, #ef8f8a, #f2a19c, #f5b6b3, #f8cbc9, #fbe1e0, #fef6f6
- Shades (toward black): #ca241c, #b42018, #a21d16, #8b1913, #791611, #63120d, #510f0b, #3a0a08, #280706, #120302

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #1ed2dc
- Analogous: #dc1e73, #dc861e
- Triadic: #1edc27, #271edc
- Split-complementary: #1edc86, #1e73dc
- Tetradic: #73dc1e, #1ed2dc, #861edc

## Colors that go with #dc281e

Named partners (harmony on the OKLCH wheel, co-occurrence in curated palettes and brand systems, and the neutrals that carry it), best first:

- **Charcoal** #36454f [role, pool] — Charcoal is the body-text near-black for #dc281e: its slight blue cast keeps type crisp beside a warm colour where pure #000 looks heavy. Seen in: Codecademy (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/codecademy-com), IHG (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/ihg-com), Frost & Ember (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/bold#frost-and-ember), Logitech (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/logitech-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Royal Blue** #4169e1 [harmony, pool: triadic] — Royal Blue completes a triad with #dc281e — three hues spaced evenly round the wheel, the classic way to get energy into a palette without a clash. Seen in: Toyota (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/toyota-com), WWE (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wwe-com), Foot Locker (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/footlocker-com), Pizza Hut (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/pizzahut-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/royalblue
- **Sea Green** #2e8b57 [harmony, pool: triadic] — Sea Green completes a triad with #dc281e — three hues spaced evenly round the wheel, the classic way to get energy into a palette without a clash. Seen in: Netflix (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/netflix), Coinbase (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/coinbase), Five Guys (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/fiveguys-com), Wellness (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#wellness). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/seagreen
- **Steel Blue** #4682b4 [harmony, pool: split] — Steel Blue is a split-complement of #dc281e: nearly opposite, so it still pops against it, without the vibrating edge of a true complement. Seen in: NASCAR (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nascar-com), Wired (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wired-com), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/steelblue
- **Amber** #ffbf00 [pool] — Amber is paired with #dc281e in 7 real palettes, including McDonald's's brand system and Wired's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: McDonald's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com), Wired (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wired-com), Google (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/google-com), Maple (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#maple). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/amber
- **Blue** #0000ff [pool] — 8 real palettes, including Doordash's brand system and native Cybersecurity's brand system put Blue beside #dc281e, as the accent. Seen in: Doordash (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/doordash-com), native Cybersecurity (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/crowdstrike-com), Tim Hortons (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/timhortons-com), Gap (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gap-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/blue
- **Cobalt Blue** #0047ab [pool] — Designers have shipped Cobalt Blue with #dc281e: 5 real palettes, including Walgreens's brand system and Behance's brand system, as the accent. Seen in: Walgreens (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/walgreens-com), Behance (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/behance-net), NASA (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nasa-gov), MLB (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mlb-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/cobalt
- **Dark Olive Green** #556b2f [pool] — Dark Olive Green shows up next to #dc281e in 5 real palettes, including Farmers Market and Magazine Ochre, as the supporting colour. Seen in: Farmers Market (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#farmers-market), Magazine Ochre (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#magazine-ochre), Clay & Linen (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#clay-and-linen), Olive Grove (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#olive-grove). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/darkolivegreen

## Contrast (WCAG 2.x, as text)

- On white (#ffffff): 4.81:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #ab1f17 (7.14:1)
- On black (#000000): 4.37:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #e12d23 (4.6:1); AA: background → #fafafa (4.61:1); AAA: text → #eb716b (7.11:1)

## Brands using this color

- **McDonald's** — secondary #da291c (Δ 0.419) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/mcdonalds-com
- **Codecademy** — accent #dc2626 (Δ 0.662) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/codecademy-com
- **Lenovo** — secondary #e1251b (Δ 0.952) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lenovo-com
- **Lay's** — accent #df2027 (Δ 1.167) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/lays-com
- **MAC Cosmetics** — secondary #da1717 (Δ 1.494) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/maccosmetics-com
- **State Farm** — primary #d62311 (Δ 1.549) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/statefarm-com
- **JBL** — secondary #df2d00 (Δ 1.624) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/jbl-com
- **Pinterest** — secondary #dd0e0e (Δ 1.669) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/pinterest-com
- **Burger King** — primary #d62300 (Δ 1.836) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/bk-com
- **Wells Fargo** — primary #d71e28 (Δ 1.857) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wellsfargo-com
- **Toyota** — secondary #e10a1d (Δ 1.865) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/toyota-com
- **Formula 1** — secondary #e10600 (Δ 1.919) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/formula1-com

## Fonts for this mood

- warm: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/warm
- playful: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/playful
- bold: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/bold

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/dc281e-c4a39c-62cb9d-2d261f-f1e9ed?lock=0&style=vibrant
(Humans lock/regenerate in the tool; the URL is the state — read `lock=` back to see what they kept.)

## Connect an agent

Point any MCP client at the BrandSweets colors endpoint for the same engine:

- Endpoint: https://mcp.brandsweets.com/colors/mcp
- Tools: `analyze_color` (e.g. `analyze_color({ color: "#dc281e" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.