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Gamboge

Gamboge
#FFAB00Click to copy

Gamboge Parameter Conversion Table

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HEX#FFAB00Copy
RGBrgb(255, 171, 0)Copy
HSLhsl(40, 100%, 50%)Copy
HSV/HSBhsv(40, 100%, 100%)Copy
CMYKcmyk(0%, 33%, 100%, 0%)Copy
Complementary
#FFAB00
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#0054FF
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Analogous
#FF2C00
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#D3FF00
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Split Complementary
#00D3FF
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#2C00FF
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Monochromatic
#FFAB00
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#F4C971
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#FBEDD0
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#996700
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#332200
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#000000
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Gamboge WCAG Accessibility Contrast

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The contrast ratio of this color against common foreground/background colors (based on the WCAG 2.1 standard)

Sample text Aa
White background #FFFFFF
1.90 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Black background #000000
11.08 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Light gray background #F5F5F5
1.74 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Dark gray background #333333
6.66 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large

Gamboge Shade Variants

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Lighten with White Mixed with white for a lighter, softer color
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Darken with Black Mixed with black for a deeper, heavier color
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Muted / Morandi Mixed with gray and desaturated for a sophisticated muted tone
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Gamboge Color Introduction

Definition

Gamboge (HEX #FFAB00) has the RGB value rgb(255, 171, 0), the HSL value hsl(40°, 100%, 50%) and the CMYK print value cmyk(0%, 33%, 100%, 0%). In terms of color schemes, the complement of Gamboge is #0054FF, and placing the two side by side produces a striking, eye-catching contrast; paired with the analogous colors #FF2B00 and #D3FF00 that sit next to it on the color wheel, it transitions naturally and harmoniously; in a split-complementary scheme (#00D3FF, #2C00FF) it keeps its contrast tension without losing layering; and a monochromatic scheme built on Gamboge uses gradients of lightness and saturation to create a unified design with a strong sense of depth. Under the WCAG accessibility standard, Gamboge has a contrast ratio of 1.90:1 against white and 11.08:1 against black; paired with a black background it reaches AAA, making it ideal for text and accent colors in dark mode.

Color Characteristics

Orange blends the passion of red with the brightness of yellow, evoking sunsets, fruit and campfires. Warm yet energetic, it is widely used in food, e-commerce and sports brands. Specifically, Gamboge has a lightness of 50% and a saturation of 100%, striking and generous as a background or primary color, offering good readability with either light or dark text; moreover, its saturation is extremely high and its visual tension is strong, so it works best used sparingly as a focal accent. In a word: A traditional Chinese painting pigment color, bright and rich, the main yellow used in bird-and-flower and figure paintings, with good blending properties.

Color Psychology

Orange can evoke pleasure, friendliness and appetite, with a marked approachable quality; psychologically it symbolizes vitality, optimism and creativity. For this reason Gamboge tends to leave a first impression of being warm and friendly in the viewer’s mind, and this emotional tone also defines the role it plays in design.

Best Uses

Orange suits food packaging, e-commerce campaigns, children’s products and any scene that needs to convey warmth and energy. In real projects, Gamboge is also often used as a dark background or heading text color; in “Orange”-themed designs, the adjacent colors or lightness gradients built around it quickly establish a cohesive, clearly layered color scheme.

Gamboge Featured In

This color is included in the following color cards and color families. Click a card to browse more colors in the corresponding collection.