What Color Is Blood Red and What Is Its Symbolism? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Design 27 27 people found this article helpful

How to Use Blood Red in Your Design Projects

Blood red isn't just for halloween

By Jacci Howard Bear Jacci Howard Bear Writer A graphic designer, writer, and artist who writes about and teaches print and web design. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on October 15, 2021 Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Design Graphic Design Photoshop Animation & Video 3D Design Blood red is a warm color that can be bright or dark red. The bright red color of crimson is often considered the color of fresh blood, but blood-red color may also describe a dark maroon shade of red. Depending on how it is used, blood red can carry some of the darker or more sinister symbolism of red, including anger, aggression, death, or a sense of the macabre. Blood red can also symbolize loyalty (as in a blood oath) and love (blood is associated with the heart and romance). You're just as likely to see blood red on Valentine's Day as on Halloween. ​Lifewire / Alison Czinkota Blood red is an attention-grabbing color, so don't waste it on unimportant elements of your design. The viewer's eye is drawn to it immediately, so use it for elements you want to stand out.

Using Blood Red in Design Files

When planning a design project destined for commercial printing, use CMYK formulations for blood red in your page layout software or select a Pantone spot color. For display on a computer monitor, use RGB values. Use hex designations when working with HTML, CSS, and SVG. Blood red shades are best achieved with the following: Hex RGB CMYK Blood Red #bb0a1e 166,16,30 0,95,84,27 Crimson #dc143c 220,20,60 0,91,73,14 Dark Red #8b0000 139,0,0 0,100,100,45 Maroon #800000 128,0,0 0,100,100,50 Blood Orange #cc1100 204,17,0 0,92,100,20

Choosing Pantone Colors Closest to Blood Red

When working with printed pieces, sometimes a solid color red ink, rather than a CMYK red, is a more economical choice. The Pantone Matching System is the most widely recognized spot color system, and it is supported by industry-leading design software and most U.S. commercial printing companies. Here are the Pantone colors suggested as best matches to blood red: Pantone Solid Coated Blood Red 7621 C Crimson 199 C Dark Red 7623 C Maroon 2350 C Blood Orange 2350 C The C following a Pantone number indicates the color is represented as it appears on coated paper. When the ink is applied on an uncoated paper, the ink is the same, but its appearance changes due to absorption into the paper. It typically appears less vibrant. If you plan to print blood red on uncoated paper, ask your commercial printing company to show you the side-by-side comparison of the ink on both types of paper, using their Pantone guides made for this purpose. Blood red text on a black background (or vice versa) is a low-contrast combination that usually makes the text difficult to read. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use Crimson in Print and Web Design All About the Color Chartreuse and Its Use in Design What Color Is Plum and What Is its Symbolism? Navy Blue: So Dark It's Almost Black What Color Is Lilac? The Color Cobalt and How Is It Used in Publishing Scarlet Shades and Symbolism in Website Design How to Change Theme Colors in Google Slides When to Use Spot Colors Versus Process Colors (Or Both) Learn About Adjacent Colors on the Color Wheel What Color Is Fuchsia? Symbolism and Usage in Design How to Print White Ink and Alternatives for Printing White What to Consider Before Buying a New Printer How to Design With Blue and Complementary Colors What Is a Knockout in Graphics, Prepress, and Printing? A Designer's Guide to Understanding Colors Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies