Amber Color: A Guide to Color Schemes, Shades and Symbolism
The color amber stands out with its warm, golden allure. Amber is between the rich yellows and vibrant oranges on the color wheel. Its golden hue is reminiscent of honey and autumn leaves.
Amber is a pure chroma color with a hue of 45 degrees and a saturation of 100%. The warm and vibrant color is helpful in various applications such as fashion, art, and design.
Amber on the Color Wheel
The color wheel represents an entire range of colors. Amber sits between yellow and orange on the color wheel, giving unique characteristics and color schemes. Complementary colors offer a striking contrast to the color amber.
Amber’s position on the color spectrum also impacts its psychological and emotional effects. It often evokes feelings of joy, comfort, and optimism. The hue’s proximity to yellow adds a sense of brightness, while orange introduces elements of creativity.
Amber is 45 degrees from red on the color wheel and is the brightest possible shade of its hue. It has a hex code of #FFBF00, meaning it’s made of 255 parts red, 191 parts green, and 0 parts blue in the RGB system.
Shades of Amber
Amber is extracted from the material amber, a fossilized tree resin. The resin varies in color depending on its source and age. The resin secreted from the trees often traps small insects and plant matter.
Over time, the resin fossilized and was appreciated for its colors and natural beauty. Amber is one of the defined colors used in automotive signal lamps. The shades of amber vary, ranging from pale and light to deep and dark hues.
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Values (%) | RGB Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon | #FFF44F | 0, 4, 69, 0 | 255, 244, 79 |
| Paris Daisy | #FFF46E | 0, 6, 56, 0 | 255, 246, 110 |
| Web Orange | #FFA500 | 0, 35, 100, 0 | 255, 165, 0 |
| Selective Yellow | #FFBA00 | 0, 27, 100, 0 | 255, 186, 0 |
| Banana | #FFE135 | 0, 12, 79, 0 | 255, 225, 53 |
| Daffodil | #FFFF31 | 0, 1, 81, 0 | 255, 255, 49 |
| Candlelight | #FCD917 | 0, 15, 91, 1 | 252, 217, 23 |
| Supernova | #FFC901 | 0, 21, 100, 0 | 255, 201, 1 |
Complementary Colors of Amber
The color wheel helps determine the complementary colors of amber. Complementary colors sit across each other on the wheel.
Amber’s complementary colors often provide a vivid contrast. Here are a few unique complementary colors:
Blue
Blue’s cooler tones, such as azure, cerulean, and sky blue, are suitable complementary hues. The contrasting blend of warm amber and cool blue creates a balanced palette.
Purple
Consider the darker shades of purple, like plum, deep violet, and eggplant. The pairing introduces warmth and richness, resulting in a sophisticated aesthetic.
Combining amber furniture or accents with deep purple upholstery creates a luxurious, inviting ambiance.
Green
The jewel-toned variations of green serve as intriguing complementary colors to amber. Combining amber with emerald or forest green evokes a sense of vitality and nature.
Jewelry with an amber gemstone set in a green gold design enhances the earth qualities of both colors.
Teal
Teal is a rich blend of green and blue that presents contemporary and vibrant contrast. Amber warmth and teal’s coolness offer a unique complementary pairing. A graphic design project with an amber background and teal accents captures attention.
Monochromatic Color Scheme for Amber
A monochromatic color scheme uses variations of a single color to create a harmonious composition. Using variations of the same colors offers depth to the design.
These shades help create a monochromatic color scheme for amber:
- Black Amber: Black amber is the darkest shade of amber. It creates a strong contrast when paired with darker colors.
- Dark Amber: Adding less black to the base hue creates a dark shade of amber. Dark amber creates a warm and cozy atmosphere as an accent color.
- Goldenrod: Adding more black to the base hue creates this medium shade of amber. Goldenrod creates a rich impression as a highlight or focal point color.
- Amber: Amber is the base hue of the monochromatic color scheme. It creates a radiant and energetic mood when used as a dominant color.
- Sunglow: Adding white to the base hue creates this light tint of amber. Sunglow creates a cheerful vibe when used as a secondary color.
- Medium Yellow: Medium yellow is a lighter tint of amber made by adding more white to the base hue. The shade is a suitable background or accent color, creating a soft and soothing effect.
- Jasmine: Adding even more white to the base hue creates jasmine–the lightest tint of amber. Jasmine is an ideal highlight or detail color.
The table below summarizes the monochromatic color scheme for amber:
| Color Name | Hex Code | RGB Code |
|---|---|---|
| Black Amber | #664C00 | 102, 76, 0 |
| Dark Amber | #997300 | 153, 115, 0 |
| Goldenrod | #CC9900 | 204,153, 0 |
| Amber | #FFBF00 | 255,191, 0 |
| Sunglow | #FFCC33 | 255, 204, 51 |
| Medium Yellow | #FFD966 | 255, 217, 102 |
| Jasmine | #FFE599 | 255, 229, 153 |
Other Color Schemes That Go With Amber
Depending on your mood and style, other color schemes go with amber.
Split Complementary
The split complementary color scheme consists of three colors. They include a base color paired with two colors on either side of its complement. Neon blue is the complementary color of amber.
Analogous
An analogous color scheme consists of three colors that are next to each other on the color scheme. They include red-orange and yellow-green. Pairing these colors with amber creates a warm atmosphere.
Triadic
The triadic color scheme comprises three colors evenly spaced around the color wheel. These colors form an equilateral triangle and create a harmonious scheme. The triadic colors of amber are violet and green.
Tetradic
A tetradic color scheme comprises four colors forming a rectangle on the color wheel. They consist of two pairs of complementary colors that create a sophisticated scheme. The tetradic colors of amber are green, blue-green, and blue-violet.
Hexadic
The hexadic color scheme comprises six colors that form a hexagon on the color wheel. It consists of six colors that create a dynamic scheme. The hexadic colors of amber are blue-violet, violet-red, yellow-green, green-blue, and orange-yellow.
Here’s a table that summarizes the color schemes that go with amber:
| Color Scheme | Colors | Hex Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Complementary | Amber, Neon Blue | #FFBF00, #0040FF |
| Split Complementary | Amber, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet | #FFBF00, #00FFBF, #BF00FF |
| Analogous | Amber, Red-Orange, Yellow-Green | #FFBF00, #FF4000, #C0FF00 |
| Triadic | Amber, Green, Violet | #FFBF00, #00FF40, #FF00C0 |
| Tetradic | Amber, Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet | #FFBF00, #40FF00, #00FFBF, #BF00FF |
| Hexadic | Amber, Red-Orange, Yellow-Green, Green-Blue, Blue-Violet, Violet-Red | #FFBF00, #FF4000, #C0FF00, #00C0FF, #4000FF, #FF0040 |
Practical Use of Amber in Design
Amber’s graphic and interior design applications highlight its unique qualities and appeal.
Amber in Graphic Design
- Warmth and elegance: Amber evokes a sense of warmth and elegance in interior design. It’s a suitable primary or accent color since it adds richness to designs.
- Typography and layouts: Amber establishes a hierarchy in typography and layouts. It’s a perfect background color, creating an appealing contrast with various elements.
- Branding and logos: Incorporating amber into branding and logos creates a tenable visual identity. It enhances the impact of a brand when paired with complementary or contrasting colors.
Amber in Interior Design
- Inviting atmosphere: Amber infuses interior spaces with a cost atmosphere. It suits various elements, such as accessories, walls, furniture, and lighting fixtures.
- Lighting effects: Amber lighting creates a relaxing ambiance in interior spaces. Using amber-toned light bulbs enhances the warmth and coziness of a room.
- Accent color: Incorporating amber through decorative objects, textiles, and artwork adds vibrancy to a space. Blend amber with complementary or contrasting colors to create a balanced composition.