The ruddy power of the color cinnabar makes it a bold choice in any palette. Most shades of the color red have been found to elevate heart rate. This reaction elevates design, fashion, and art to a state of built-in excitement. Cinnabar color can excite for better or worse depending how it’s used. The color cinnabar can boost messaging around celebrations, limited-time offers, product launches, and more. Consider the color cinnabar the equivalent of adding a visual exclamation point to a project.

Cinnabar color inspiration from décor to branding.

The color cinnabar has become increasingly popular in interior and graphic design. Its brightness is tamed by the brown undertones, making it a striking color that doesn’t go overboard. The spiciness of the color cinnabar complements neutral color décor as an accent color. In graphic branding, the brick-red tone grabs instant attention. Brands like Vermillion Energy have leaned into the use of cinnabar color as a bold but grounded hue.

Tap into the psychology of cinnabar color.

The symbolism of cinnabar color provides a history with many potential meanings. There is one more ubiquitous psychology to bear in mind, though. Cinnabar color is a bright shade of red, which is known to evoke passion of all kinds — from desire to anger. The orange undertone of cinnabar color provokes appetite and interest, too. The brown, earthy influence provides the color cinnabar with a sense of grounding that helps relax its intensity.

Combine cinnabar with other colors.

The color cinnabar combines beautifully with shades of brown. Lighter neutrals help bring out the vibrancy of cinnabar color, too, so play with cinnabar next to khaki or ecru. Combine the color cinnabar with turquoise or blue to see it pop as a warm and energetic hue.

Information about cinnabar color.

The cinnabar HEX code picker is #E34234. This is the classic bricklike red with hints of orange and brown.

The color cinnabar can be achieved in a RGB space with 227 red, 66 green, and 52 blue. Cinnabar color can be achieved in a CMYK color space with 0% cyan, 71% magenta, 77% yellow, and 11% black.

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What is the meaning of the color cinnabar?

Cinnabar color is a red-orange with an earthy undertone. Originally, the color cinnabar came from an ancient pigment made with mercury sulfide. In a powder or paste, mercury sulfide naturally takes on the vivid, bricklike color. Even after discovering that the material was toxic, the color cinnabar remained.

The color cinnabar is a ruddy hue with tones of orange and a natural brown base. Cinnabar color has the punch of red but the grounding of brown.

The history of cinnabar color.

The origin of the color cinnabar.

Mercury sulfide is the most common natural source of mercury. For over 10,000 years, it’s been used to mix the cinnabar color pigments found in art and artifacts. In Ancient Greece, the color cinnabar was extracted and used in everything from marble sculptures to jewelry. Most often, cinnabar color was applied in paint.

The discovery of cinnabar’s toxicity.

Modern cautions around mercury began as far back as Ancient Rome. The Romans also used cinnabar color to paint artifacts of great cultural significance, and the color was said to have sacred importance. Greater care was used, however, after the color cinnabar was found to be deadly with excessive close contact. At the height of the Roman Empire, the cinnabar used was primarily extracted from Almadén, Spain, which is still the world’s largest mercury mine.

The color cinnabar continued in art.

The color cinnabar continued to make countless striking appearances in art. Perhaps one of the most famous is the 16th century fresco Assunta by Tiziano Vecellio, which features cinnabar color as the primary hue. The discovery of cadmium red in the early 1900s is what finally replaced the use of toxic cinnabar, providing a safer contemporary alternative for the deep cinnabar color.

The color cinnabar across different cultures.

The color cinnabar in language.

Cinnabar color was first named in English in the 14th century. It was adopted from kinnabari in Greek, the old name for the mercury-based substance cinnabar color pigment. Kinnabari also entered Latin, although the color cinnabar was also sometimes called minium, meaning “red cinnamon.” In English, “cinnabar” was also used between 1300 and 1600 as the name of a certain tree’s resin believed to be a mixture of elephant and dragon blood.

Cinnabar color in Eastern antiquity.

The color cinnabar has been used for thousands of years all around the world. As far back as the Yangshao culture in Ancient China, cinnabar color denoted blood, victory, and — above all — success. In the Zhou dynasty, cinnabar was used for writing on oracle bones, and in the Song dynasty it was used to paint lacquerware. The appeal of the color cinnabar is so strong that it’s been continually adopted for new purposes.

Red Devil, Alaska and its cinnabar origins.

Mercury sulfide was also mined near modern-day Red Devil, Alaska. The village was later named after the mine, “red” from the color cinnabar and “devil” from mercury’s toxic qualities. Red Devil, Alaska had a population of 22 inhabitants in the 2020 census.

Design with cinnabar

Inspiration in the color cinnabar.

How to use the color cinnabar.

Generate excitement with the color cinnabar.