Scarlet

Color codes

Tints & shades

Palettes & harmonies

Color contrast

Here's how text looks on scarlet versus the color as text — a quick legibility check before you use it behind captions.

At this lightness, scarlet pairs best with white or very light text for readable captions.

What Scarlet means

Scarlet is associated with passion, urgency, and boldness. In design and branding, it's chosen to evoke exactly these qualities — which is why the color behind an app's screenshots and store presence does so much quiet work before anyone reads a word.

As a vivid, mid-toned, warm color (HSL 8°, 100%, 50%), scarlet reads as energetic and inviting. That temperature matters in design: warm tones draw the eye forward and create urgency, which is worth keeping in mind when you decide what role this color plays in your layout.

Color psychology of Scarlet

Colors shape how people feel before they consciously register why. Scarlet, with its associations of passion, urgency, and boldness, sends a specific signal — and using it deliberately means matching that signal to your product. A meditation app and a finance app both benefit from intentional color, but rarely the same one. The question isn't whether scarlet is "good," but whether the feeling it carries matches the story you want your app to tell.

Using Scarlet in app screenshots & UI

If you're designing App Store or Google Play screenshots, scarlet works as a background or accent when it fits your brand's personality. A few practical notes:

• As a background: use it full-bleed behind a device frame, and put your caption in white for contrast.
• As an accent: reserve it for highlights — a key word in your caption, an arrow, a badge — against a neutral background.
• Pairing: use its complementary color #00DDFF sparingly for contrast, or the analogous tones #FFA200 / #FF005D for a calmer, cohesive look.
• Consistency: use the same shade across all your screenshots so the set reads as one intentional design, not a patchwork.
• Thumbnail test: shrink your screenshot to search-result size and check the color still reads and the text stays legible.

FAQ

What does the color Scarlet symbolize?

Scarlet is associated with passion, urgency, and boldness.

What is the hex code for Scarlet?

#FF2400 — RGB 255, 36, 0, HSL 8°, 100%, 50%, CMYK 0%, 86%, 100%, 0%.

What colors go well with Scarlet?

Its complementary color is #00DDFF. For softer pairings, try the analogous colors #FFA200 and #FF005D, or build a monochromatic set from its tints and shades above.

Is Scarlet a warm or cool color?

Scarlet is a warm color. Warm colors feel energetic and advance toward the viewer.

What text color is readable on Scarlet?

Use white or light text on a scarlet background for the best contrast and legibility.

Is Scarlet good for app screenshots?

It can be, if it matches your brand. Use it consistently, keep captions high-contrast, and test how it looks at small thumbnail sizes in search results.

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