Color swatch image showing Cardinal (#C41E3A) with RGB(196,30,58) values

Cardinal (#C41E3A) Color Meaning and Information

Everything you need to know about Cardinal (#C41E3A) including values, color harmonies, shades, meanings, and applications in design, branding, and everyday visuals.

Cardinal (#C41E3A) Color Information

Cardinal (#C41E3A) RGB value is (196, 30, 58). The hex color red value is 196, green is 30, and blue is 58. Its HSL format shows a hue of 350°, saturation of 73 percent, and lightness of 44 percent. The CMYK process values are 0 percent, 85 percent, 70 percent, 23 percent.

Cardinal
#C41E3A
rgb(196, 30, 58)
ColorMean
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Cardinal (#C41E3A) Color Meaning

Cardinal (#C41E3A) declares institutional pride, unwavering loyalty, and passionate tradition. Cardinal (#C41E3A) is a vivid, slightly bluish red named after the robes of Catholic cardinals—deep enough to signify gravity, bright enough to command presence. Unlike fire-engine red, it carries historical weight; unlike burgundy, it refuses to fade into decorum. In sports and academia, Cardinal (#C41E3A) signals tribal belonging: think Stanford University or St. Louis Cardinals, where color equals identity. Psychological research confirms that such saturated reds increase in-group cohesion and perceived team strength, especially in competitive contexts. Functionally, Cardinal (#C41E3A) balances visibility and dignity. It works well in logos, uniforms, and signage where recognition must endure across decades. Print tests show excellent lightfastness, while digital use requires slight desaturation to prevent screen bleed. In user interface design, it serves as a high-priority accent—ideal for alerts or primary actions—but should be used sparingly to avoid visual fatigue. Paired with cream or charcoal, Cardinal (#C41E3A) achieves classic contrast without harshness, making it a staple in heritage branding. Symbolically, Cardinal (#C41E3A) represents devotion as discipline. It is not the red of impulse but of vow. In spiritual practice, it mirrors the root chakra’s committed mode: “I stand for something.” Designers choose Cardinal (#C41E3A) when legacy must feel alive, not archived. Its power lies in its consistency—across centuries, contexts, and cultures, Cardinal (#C41E3A) remains a chromatic oath of loyalty.

Color Conversion

Convert Cardinal (#C41E3A) across different color models and formats. These conversions help designers work seamlessly between digital and print media, ensuring this color maintains its intended appearance across RGB screens, CMYK printers, and HSL color manipulations.

HEX
#C41E3A
RGB
rgb(196, 30, 58)
HSL
hsl(350°, 73%, 44%)
CMYK
cmyk(0%, 85%, 70%, 23%)
HSV
hsv(350°, 85%, 77%)
XYZ
23.9929 12.9698 5.2418
Yxy
12.9698 0.5685 0.3073
Hunter Lab
36.0136 3.9059 0.9426
CIE-Lab
42.7177 62.9050 28.4810

RGB Values & CMYK Values

RGB Values

Red196 / 255 (77%)
77%
Green30 / 255 (12%)
12%
Blue58 / 255 (23%)
23%

CMYK Values

Cyan0 / 100 (0%)
Magenta85 / 100 (85%)
85%
Yellow70 / 100 (70%)
70%
Key (Black)23 / 100 (23%)
23%

Color Variations

Cardinal (#C41E3A) harmonies come to life through carefully balanced shades, tints, and tones, giving this color depth and flexibility across light and dark variations. Shades add richness, tints bring an airy softness, and tones soften intensity, making it easy to pair in clean, modern palettes.

Color Harmonies

Cardinal (#C41E3A) harmonies create beautiful relationships with other colors based on their position on the color wheel. Each harmony type offers unique design possibilities, enabling cohesive and visually appealing color schemes.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the color wheel (30° apart)

Complementary

Colors opposite on the color wheel (180° apart)

Split Complementary

Three colors using one base hue and the two hues beside its opposite

Triadic

Three colors evenly spaced (120° apart)

Tetradic

Four colors forming a rectangle on the wheel

Square

Four colors evenly spaced (90° apart)

Double Split

Four colors formed from two base hues and the colors next to their opposites

Monochromatic

Variations of a single hue

Contrast Checker

(WCAG 2.1) Test Cardinal (#C41E3A) for accessibility compliance against white and black backgrounds. Proper contrast ensures this color remains readable and usable for all audiences, meeting WCAG 2.1 standards for both normal and large text applications.

#FFFFFF
#C41E3A

Sample Text

This is how your text will look with these colors.

Large Text (18pt+)

5.84:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Normal Text

5.84:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

UI Components

5.84:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Color Blindness Simulator

See how #C41E3A appears to people with different types of color vision deficiencies. These simulations help create more inclusive designs that consider how this color is perceived across various visual abilities.

Normal Vision

Cardinal (#C41E3A)

protanopia

#7c7b33

Note: These simulations are approximations. Actual color vision deficiency varies by individual.

CSS Examples

Background Color

background-color: #C41E3A;

Text Color

color: #C41E3A;

Sample Text

Border Color

border: 2px solid #C41E3A;

Box Shadow

box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #C41E3A40;

Text Shadow

text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px #C41E3A;

Sample Text

Gradient

background: linear-gradient(135deg, #C41E3A 0%, #741222 100%);

Cardinal (#C41E3A) Color FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Cardinal (#C41E3A) color meaning, symbolism, and applications. Click on any question to expand detailed answers.