Inspiration in the color buff.

Learn the history and meaning of the color buff, a sandy gold tone the color of undyed hide.

Buff

#FFC680

How to use the color buff.

Buff color stationery.

Many undyed paper products tend to be buff color, too. Classics like Manila paper and envelopes are used extensively in commercial mailings and in art. Some artists favor buff color paper as a neutral background, especially for ink and charcoal drawings that feature white.

The color buff in the natural world.

Buff color occurs naturally in sand and rock around the world. Picture buff color cliffs hanging over the ocean, or a buff color loess along the river. Many animals sport the color buff, too. There are buff bands on snakes, on moth wingtips, and in fungi along the forest floor.

Tap into the psychology of the color buff.

Popular color psychology says that “beige is boring,” and the color buff is close enough to beige that it’s sometimes seen that way. Buff color, however, has a golden hue that can’t be missed. It’s an understated color that is decidedly warmer than beige, and given the opportunity, it can evoke feelings of calm and comfort. Buff color is also a symbol of steadiness and stature.

Combine buff with other colors.

The color buff is fairly neutral, though it’s warmer than a color like tan. This means it can be used as a neutral in more complex palettes but will heat up next to cool, complementary blues. Combine buff color with other warm and natural colors like ochre or burgundy for an autumnal feel. In a palette with tan and beige, the color buff looks its most colorful.

Information about buff color.

The buff HEX code picker is #FFC680. This is a warm tan that hangs in the balance of orange and yellow.

Buff color can be achieved in an RGB space with 255 red, 198 green, and 128 blue. The color buff can be achieved in a CMYK color space with 0% cyan, 22% magenta, 50% yellow, and 0% black.

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What is the meaning of the color buff?

Buff color is a light, golden orange. The color name came from the undyed ox leather used in tunics and protective clothing as far back as the 1600s. Buff color is warm but muted. It acts as a natural tone that’s golden enough to evoke delight but soft enough to soothe. Buff color’s historical use produced several English idioms, too.

The color buff is neither brown nor orange, neither intense nor tame. It was named after soft ox hide the color of yellow ochre.

Design with buff