Yellow colour: characterisation, colour codes, shades and mixing

Yellow is one of the most vivid and striking colours to the human eye. It is characterized by sunshine, optimism and happiness. It is often associated with creativity and energy, as well as mental alertness and intellect. Yellow stimulates the nervous system, enhancing alertness and communication. It is also used as warning signs for safety and security, for example on road signs and construction sites.

However, the colour yellow can also have negative effects. Certain shades can cause anxiety or stress, and when used in excessive amounts can be irritating. Yellow is also sometimes associated with envy and jealousy. Yellow is often used in interior decoration and design to make a room feel welcoming and warm, but it is important to use it in moderation and in careful combination with other colours to avoid over-stimulation.

RGB and HEX colour codes for yellow

The yellow colour is RGB (255, 255, 0) and the HEX code is #FFFF00.

Colour scheme	Code/Weights
Hex	#FFFF00
RGB	rgb(255, 255, 0)
HSL	hsl(60, 100%, 50%)
HSV/HSB	hsv(60, 100%, 100%)
CMYK	cmyk(0, 0, 100, 0)
Contrasting colour	#0000FF
Complementary colour	#0000FF

Dark and light shades of yellow

Click on the colour codes below to copy them to the clipboard.

Dark shades

Light shades

Yellow colour complementary colour palettes

I have arranged the different shades of yellow and their combinations according to different colour types. Here you will find a presentation of complementary, analogue, monochrome, triad, tetrad, split complementary and neutral palettes.

Complementary palette

Analogue palette

Monochrome palette

Triad palette

Tetrade palette

Split complementary palette

Neutral palette

What is the colour of yellow?

Yellow is a bright and warm hue, often used as a symbol of sunshine and optimism. On the spectrum Green and orange. The colour yellow comes in different shades, such as canary yellow, lemon yellow and golden yellow.

What makes the colour yellow?

The colour of yellow depends on several factors, such as the spectral composition of the light source, the material properties of the colour and the sensitivity of the human eye. Different light sources emit light at different wavelengths, which affects the perceived hue of the yellow colour. Material properties, such as the pigments of the paint and the texture of the surface, also affect the appearance of the colour. Finally, the different photoreceptors in the human eye are sensitive to different wavelengths of light to different degrees, causing variations in colour perception.

How is the yellow colour colour mixing possible?

There are several ways to create yellow, depending on whether you are mixing lights or paints. When we talk about lights (additive colour mixing), the yellow colour is obtained by mixing red and green lights. And when we are talking about mixing paints (subtractive colour mixing), we can create yellow by mixing red and green paints with a pure white base, where the mixture of red and green paints blocks the blue colour, creating yellow.