Showa era
Ochre Red & Light Brownish Olive +1
Plate 199 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Ochre Red, Light Brownish Olive, Deep Lyons Blue.
#ab544d
red · 2 palettes
Ochre Red
About Ochre Red
Ochre Red is a mid-tone, muted red tone. Its hex value is #ab544d — that is
RGB 171, 84, 77, or HSL 4°, 38%, 49%.
It holds 5.1:1 contrast against white, so Ochre Red works best for body text, headings, and UI labels. (On white it scores 5.1:1; on black 4.1:1.)
Across Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, Ochre Red appears in 2 combinations — most often paired with Light Brownish Olive, Deep Lyons Blue and Pale Burnt Lake.
Colours that go with Ochre Red
From a standard colour wheel, Ochre Red anchors these four classic schemes. Each swatch is computed from its exact hue, so every hex is a real, usable pairing.
Complementary
#ab544d #4DA4AB
the hue directly opposite — the highest-contrast pairing, good for a single bold accent.
Analogous
#ab544d #AB4D75 #AB834D
the two neighbours on the wheel — a calm, cohesive scheme that feels effortless.
Triadic
#ab544d #4DAB54 #544DAB
two hues an even third of the wheel away — balanced and lively without clashing.
Split-complementary
#ab544d #4DAB83 #4D75AB
the two colours either side of the complement — the contrast of a complement, softened.
How to use Ochre Red
Ochre Red is a mid-tone, muted tone (HSL 4°, 38%, 49%), which makes it a versatile mid-tone for accents, buttons or blocks. For text it passes WCAG AA for body text against a light background (5.1:1) — safe for paragraphs, buttons and labels. When you do set type on it, use light lettering. Pair it with its complement (#4DA4AB) for a focal accent, or with its analogous neighbours (#AB4D75 and #AB834D) for a quieter, harmonious feel.
Studio
Taking Ochre Red off the screen
A hex code is an instruction to a screen, not a colour. Where this one is going decides what it needs next.
Affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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...onto paper
Start here if the palette gets printed. Screen colour and ink colour are not the same colour, and this is the deck that translates between them.
Listed on Amazon as Pantone Formula Guide – Coated & Uncoated | Professional PMS Color Matching System for Print, Packaging & Graphic Design | GP1601B
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...onto a screen you can trust
Start here if it stays digital. An uncalibrated monitor is the single most common reason a palette that looked right on your desk looks wrong everywhere else.
Calibrite
ColorChecker Passport Photo 2
Listed on Amazon as Calibrite ColorChecker Passport Photo 2 Portable Color Calibration Kit for Photo and Video, 4 Target Set for White Balance, Exposure and Creative Look
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...by hand
Start here if you are mixing it. Wada's plates were flat printed colour; gansai pans are the closest everyday medium to them.
Kuretake
Gansai Tambi 24 — Art Nouveau
Listed on Amazon as Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor Paint Set 24 Colors II - Art Nouveau
See price on Amazon
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Palettes with Ochre Red
Ochre Red appears in 2 combinations from the archive. Each pairing reveals how the same color shifts character depending on its neighbours. For how usage like this compares across the whole dictionary, see the data analysis of all 348 plates.
Questions about Ochre Red
- What is the hex code for Ochre Red?
- Ochre Red is #ab544d. It appears in 2 historical color combinations from Sanzo Wada's 1933 "A Dictionary of Color Combinations".
- What does Ochre Red look like on white and black backgrounds?
- Ochre Red (#ab544d) has a WCAG contrast ratio of 5.11:1 against white (#FFFFFF) and 4.11:1 against black (#000000). WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
- Where does the color Ochre Red come from?
- Ochre Red is documented in Sanzo Wada's "A Dictionary of Color Combinations" (1933, Seigensha Art Publishing 2010 reprint). Wada catalogued red pigments and historical Japanese color terms. The source work is in the public domain.
- Can I use Ochre Red in my own design or brand?
- Yes. The color name and hex value (#ab544d) are factual data — not copyrightable. Our curation and descriptions are CC BY 4.0 licensed.
From the archive
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