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Straightforward Algarve

#c3a238
Notes

Straightforward Algarve (#C3A238) is a true amber with an earthy character. It leans grounded and natural, the kind of color that plays well with wood, clay, linen, and warm neutrals. Its HSL profile (46°, 55%, 49%) places it in the balanced band at a mid lightness. It works across type, buttons, and borders, saturated enough to feel deliberate but balanced enough to not fight the rest of the palette. 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
#c3a238
RGB
rgb(195, 162, 56)
HSL
hsl(46, 55%, 49%)
HWB
hwb(46 22% 24%)
OKLCH
oklch(72.3% 0.127 91.2)
HSV
hsv(46, 71%, 76%)
LAB
lab(67.82% 0.94 57.01)
LCH
lch(67.82% 57.02 89.06)
CMYK
cmyk(0%, 17%, 71%, 24%)

Etymology

Straightforward
adjective

English compound straight + forward — sharing root with German geradeaus. As a color modifier, straightforward implies a clear-and-direct-and-unencumbered quality where the hue carries the visual register of clear-aim-and-uncomplicated character. Sits at the crisp-and-honest end of the grid, parallel to candid and direct in usage.

Algarve
noun

The southernmost Portuguese region — and the warm tan of Algarve limestone cliffs and the sandy beaches of Praia da Marinha. Algarve refers to the Atlantic-facing limestone cliffs at midday: a soft, slightly cool warm cream-tan with the matte finish of weathered Cenozoic limestone. The Portuguese cousin of Cotswold.

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.

#c3a238
Original
#b4a029
Protanopia
#bca93d
Deuteranopia
#d3958d
Tritanopia
#a1a1a1
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
2.46:1
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
8.55:1

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