← Shades of yellow

≈ Amber

#FDBC1A is closest to Amber in our library. Amber (#FDBC1A) is a light, vivid yellow with a warm feel. It has a hue angle of 43° and a lightness of 83%. Its strong saturation makes it eye-catching, so use it with intent and let neutrals do the rest.

#FDBC1A≈ Amber
Conversion

What Amber looks like, feels like and where it works.

Description

Amber (#FDBC1A) is a light, vivid yellow with a warm feel. It has a hue angle of 43° and a lightness of 83%. Its strong saturation makes it eye-catching, so use it with intent and let neutrals do the rest.

Psychology

Yellow is the brightest hue and the quickest to attract the eye. It feels cheerful and hopeful, but bright yellows tire the eye in large areas and need dark partners for text. As a light shade, Amber feels airy and gentle.

Meaning

Yellow means sunshine and joy, and also caution: it is the color of warning signs and taxis because it is seen from far away. Muted golds suggest warmth and value.

Why use this color

Amber is a confident accent. Dark text is easy to read on it, so it works as a surface, highlight or card background. Pair it with its tints and shades for a complete scale.

Applications
  • Highlights, badges and notices
  • Travel and education
  • Warning and caution signs
  • Accents on dark backgrounds
History

Early yellows were ochre and orpiment, an arsenic sulfide. Chrome yellow, introduced in the early 1800s, became famous in Van Gogh's sunflowers.

Accessibility

White text on Amber has a contrast ratio of 1.69:1 (fails); black text has 12.38:1 (AAA). WCAG AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text and interface parts. Do not rely on color alone to carry meaning: pair it with text, an icon or a pattern.

ShadesMixed with black: darker and richer.
TintsMixed with white: lighter and softer.
TonesMixed with gray: quieter and less saturated.
HuesThe same lightness and strength, turned around the wheel.
TemperaturesPushed cooler on the left, warmer on the right.
50#FEF6E8100#F9E9CC200#F3D7A2300#FDBC1A400#CB9826500#AA7E15600#8C6814700#715204800#573D00900#3F2D05950#251800
Analogous
Complementary
Split complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square

Want to explore these on a wheel? Open the color wheel.

#FDBC1A
Typical visionAs most people see it
#D7BD00
ProtanopiaReduced sensitivity to red
#E6CE27
DeuteranopiaReduced sensitivity to green
#FFA8A1
TritanopiaReduced sensitivity to blue
#C7C7C7
AchromatopsiaNo color, only light and dark

These are approximations to help you check that meaning never depends on color alone. Real vision varies from person to person.

White textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
1.69:1
AAAAA
Normal textFailFail
Large textFailFail
Black textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
12.38:1
AAAAA
Normal textAAAAA
Large textAAAAA
Open the contrast checker
#FDBC1A Color — closest to Amber (HEX, RGB, Shades) · Tintly