← Shades of yellow

Gremlin

Gremlin (#A79954) is a medium, moderately saturated yellow with a warm feel. It has a hue angle of 50° and a lightness of 68%. Its moderate saturation keeps it lively without shouting.

#A79954Gremlin
Conversion

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

Description

Gremlin (#A79954) is a medium, moderately saturated yellow with a warm feel. It has a hue angle of 50° and a lightness of 68%. Its moderate saturation keeps it lively without shouting.

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 mid-toned shade, Gremlin sits comfortably in the middle: present but not heavy.

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

Gremlin is an easy supporting color. 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 Gremlin has a contrast ratio of 2.86:1 (fails); black text has 7.32:1 (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#F8F7EF100#EFECDB200#E2DCBD300#CBC293400#A79954500#958742600#7C6F2E700#64581F800#4C4213900#38300B950#201B02
Analogous
Complementary
Split complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square

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

#A79954
Typical visionAs most people see it
#A5964E
ProtanopiaReduced sensitivity to red
#A99B57
DeuteranopiaReduced sensitivity to green
#B29089
TritanopiaReduced sensitivity to blue
#999999
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.
2.86:1
AAAAA
Normal textFailFail
Large textFailFail
Black textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
7.32:1
AAAAA
Normal textAAAAA
Large textAAAAA
Open the contrast checker