What color is #512520?

#512520 is a dark, desaturated red, closest to the named color Torrefacto Roast. It belongs to the brown family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #512520?

The RGB value is 81, 37, 32: 81 red, 37 green and 32 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #512520?

The complementary color is #204C51, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #512520?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.64:1 and white text 12.84:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#512520 color

#512520 rgb(81, 37, 32)

Shades of brown

The hex color #512520 is a dark, desaturated red.

In the RGB color model it is made of 31.8% red, 14.5% green and 12.5% blue (81, 37, 32).

Its hue angle is 6°, with 43% saturation and 22% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 0% cyan, 54% magenta, 60% yellow and 68% black.

The closest named color is Torrefacto Roast (#4E241E), a difference of 0.9 ΔE, which is barely visible.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 12.84:1).

#512520 color codes

HEX	`#512520`
RGB	`rgb(81, 37, 32)`
RGB percent	`rgb(31.8%, 14.5%, 12.5%)`
HSL	`hsl(6, 43%, 22%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(6, 60%, 32%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(0%, 54%, 60%, 68%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(20.74, 20.02, 12.85)`
CIE LCH	`lch(20.74, 23.79, 32.7)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(4.316, 3.177, 1.752)`
Decimal	`5317920`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #512520, based on their position on the color wheel.

Complementary

The color opposite on the color wheel (180°). Strongest contrast.

Analogous

Neighbors 30° either side. Calm, natural combinations.

Split complementary

The two colors next to the complement (150° and 210°).

Triadic

Three colors evenly spaced, 120° apart.

Tetradic (square)

Four colors 90° apart.

Shades, tints and tones

Shades (darker, mixed with black)

Tints (lighter, mixed with white)

Tones (mixed with gray)

Contrast and accessibility

Text on #512520	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	1.64:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	12.84:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

#512520 as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	12.84:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	1.64:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

WCAG 2 asks for 4.5:1 for normal text (AA), 7:1 for AAA, and 3:1 for large text. Check other pairs.

Color blindness simulation

How #512520 looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #512520; }
.text { color: #512520; }
.border { border: 2px solid #512520; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(81 37 32 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #512520, #513e20); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Espresso.

Questions

What color is #512520?: #512520 is a dark, desaturated red, closest to the named color Torrefacto Roast. It belongs to the brown family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #512520?: The RGB value is 81, 37, 32: 81 red, 37 green and 32 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #512520?: The complementary color is #204C51, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #512520?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.64:1 and white text 12.84:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.