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Invigorating Sphalerite

#a6b412
Notes

Invigorating Sphalerite (#A6B412) is a true yellow with a warm character. It leans warm, pulling light toward red, orange, and yellow. Naturally inviting, it suits editorial and hospitality contexts. Its HSL profile (65°, 82%, 39%) places it in the highly saturated band at a mid lightness. Best used in small doses, like logos, CTAs, focus rings, or highlight text, where its saturation becomes a feature rather than noise. For a confident two-color system, pair it with its complementary blue. For something softer, pull in its analogous neighbors on either side of the wheel.

HEX
#a6b412
RGB
rgb(166, 180, 18)
HSL
hsl(65, 82%, 39%)
HWB
hwb(65 7% 29%)
OKLCH
oklch(73.4% 0.163 115.3)
HSV
hsv(65, 90%, 71%)
LAB
lab(70.03% -22.42 69.17)
LCH
lch(70.03% 72.71 107.96)
CMYK
cmyk(8%, 0%, 90%, 29%)

Etymology

Invigorating
adjective

Latin vigor, vigor — present-participle of invigorate, sharing root with vigil (watchfulness). As a color modifier, invigorating implies a saturated-and-life-giving-and-energizing quality where the hue increases visual-and-physical vitality. Sits at the bright-and-active end of the grid, parallel to stimulating and bracing in usage.

Sphalerite
noun

A zinc sulfide mineral — both an important zinc ore and a high-dispersion gem with adamantine luster. The yellow variety is mined principally in Spain and Mexico. The color refers to a faceted yellow Spanish sphalerite: a saturated, slightly cool yellow-orange with the gem's signature internal fire (higher dispersion than diamond).

Closest matches

The nearest named color in three reference sources, ranked by perceptual distance (ΔE76 in CIELAB). ΔE < 1 is imperceptible to most viewers; ΔE > 10 is clearly different. When two sources point to the same hex they’re merged into one tile; click any to open that color’s page.

Variations

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Harmonies

Accessibility

Color-vision simulation

How this color appears to viewers with the four major color-vision-deficiency types. Computed via the Machado (2009) physiologically-based model. If a tile matches the original, the color reads the same to that viewer.

#a6b412
Original
#c2aa00
Protanopia
#c1ac28
Deuteranopia
#b2a999
Tritanopia
#a5a5a5
Achromatopsia
WCAG contrast

The color used as foreground text against pure white and pure black, with the contrast ratio and WCAG 2.1 grade. Aim for AA (4.5:1) for body text and AA Large (3:1) for 18 pt+ headlines; AAA (7:1) is the gold standard for long-form reading surfaces.

The quick brown foxSample body text at normal size. The wcag minimum for body contrast is 4.5:1 (AA) or 7:1 (AAA).
Failon White
2.29:1
The quick brown foxSample body text at normal size. The wcag minimum for body contrast is 4.5:1 (AA) or 7:1 (AAA).
AAAon Black
9.16:1

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