Honey
Honey (#AE8934) is a medium, moderately saturated yellow with a warm feel. It has a hue angle of 42° and a lightness of 65%. Its moderate saturation keeps it lively without shouting.
About this color
What Honey looks like, feels like and where it works.
Description
Honey (#AE8934) is a medium, moderately saturated yellow with a warm feel. It has a hue angle of 42° and a lightness of 65%. 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, Honey 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
Honey is an easy supporting color. It is best as an accent, illustration or large heading color, with a lighter or darker partner for body text. 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 Honey has a contrast ratio of 3.26:1 (fails for body text); black text has 6.42:1 (AA). 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.
Variations of Honey
Tailwind-style scale
Color harmonies of Honey
Want to explore these on a wheel? Open the color wheel.
Color blindness simulator
These are approximations to help you check that meaning never depends on color alone. Real vision varies from person to person.