Which Colors Make Red?
The answer depends on your medium. In traditional RYB paint mixing and on digital screens (RGB light), red is a primary color. That means you start with red rather than mixing other basic colors to make it. In CMYK printing, however, magenta and yellow are combined to produce red.
Paint: Red is a primary color RGB light: Red is a primary color Printing: Magenta + Yellow → Red Which Colors Make Red in Paint?
In traditional art and school color theory (the RYB model), red is one of the three primary colors alongside blue and yellow. You cannot mix other basic paints to create a true primary red.
However, you can alter existing red paints: mixing in white creates pink tints, black or dark brown deepens it into maroon or burgundy, and adding a touch of yellow shifts it toward an orange-red or scarlet.
Which Colors Make Red in Printing?
In CMYK printing, red is a secondary color created by mixing magenta and yellow inks together. Adjusting the ratio shifts the hue: more yellow creates a fiery vermilion or orange-red, while more magenta leans the color toward a rich crimson or ruby.
Popular Red Shades and Color Codes
Explore a curated selection of standard web red color options with their corresponding RGB, HEX, and HSL values.
| Colour name | Hex code | RGB value | HSL value | Notes & Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red (Pure Red) | #FF0000 | rgb(255, 0, 0) | hsl(0, 100%, 50%) | Pure 100% primary red in RGB/Hex space. | |
| Crimson | #DC143C | rgb(220, 20, 60) | hsl(348, 83%, 47%) | Strong, bright, deep red CSS named color. | |
| Dark Red | #8B0000 | rgb(139, 0, 0) | hsl(0, 100%, 27%) | Standard CSS named deep maroon shadow red. | |
| Firebrick | #B22222 | rgb(178, 34, 34) | hsl(0, 68%, 41%) | Warm, earthy dark red CSS named color. | |
| Light Coral | #F08080 | rgb(240, 128, 128) | hsl(0, 79%, 72%) | Soft light red with warm pinkish undertones. | |
| Salmon | #FA8072 | rgb(250, 128, 114) | hsl(6, 93%, 71%) | Warm pinkish-orange red CSS named color. | |
| Misty Rose | #FFE4E1 | rgb(255, 228, 225) | hsl(6, 100%, 94%) | Very soft red pastel tint for UI backgrounds. | |
| Scarlet | #FF2400 | rgb(255, 36, 0) | hsl(8, 100%, 50%) | Vibrant, high-intensity orange-tinged red. | |
| Ruby Red | #E0115F | rgb(224, 17, 95) | hsl(337, 86%, 47%) | Rich jewel tone with subtle magenta undertones. | |
| Indian Red | #CD5C5C | rgb(205, 92, 92) | hsl(0, 53%, 58%) | Muted, chestnuty CSS named red. | |
| Maroon | #800000 | rgb(128, 0, 0) | hsl(0, 100%, 25%) | Classic W3C HTML standard deep dark red. | |
| Burgundy | #800020 | rgb(128, 0, 32) | hsl(345, 100%, 25%) | Rich, elegant dark red with purple undertones. | |
| Cherry Red | #D2042D | rgb(210, 4, 45) | hsl(348, 96%, 42%) | Classic vivid fruit-inspired bold red. | |
| Coral Red | #FF4040 | rgb(255, 64, 64) | hsl(0, 100%, 63%) | Bright, energetic light red tone. |
Explore over 180 distinct red color shades. Browse our complete catalog organized by tone—from classic scarlets and fiery vermilions to rich maroons, earth terracottas, and vibrant magentas. Each color comes ready with HEX, RGB, and HSL codes for your next design project.
Using Red Color Codes in Web Design
Red commands instant attention and signals urgency, making it essential for critical UI interactions. Vivid crimson and scarlet tones are reserved for destructive action prompts, error banners, and badge counts, while deeper burgundy shades lend sophistication to hero sections and luxury highlights.
More Colors with RGB, HEX, and HSL values
Looking for more colors and color tools? Browse all Color Tools for color codes, converters, shade references, and other color resources.