Shades of violet

Violet
Spectral coordinates
Wavelength	380–450 nm
Frequency	800–715 THz
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#8F00FF
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(143, 0, 255)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(44, 100, 0, 0)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(274°, 100%, 100%)
Source	HTML Color Chart @274
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

There are numerous variations of the color violet, a sampling of which are shown below.

Variations of the color violet

Variations of spectral violet

Although pure spectrum violet is outside the color gamut of the RGB color space, the three colors displayed below are rough approximations of the range of colors of actual spectral violet, although the accuracy of the approximation can vary depending on the individual's color vision, and on the color rendition of one's computer monitor.

Color wheel violet

Violet (color wheel)
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#7F00FF
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(127, 0, 255)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(50, 100, 0, 0)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(270°, 100%, 100[1]%)
Source	HTML Color Chart @270[2]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

The tertiary color on the HSV color wheel (also known as the RGB color wheel) precisely halfway between blue and magenta is called color wheel violet. This tone of violet—an approximation of the color violet at about 417 nanometers as plotted on the CIE chromaticity diagram—is shown at right. This tone of violet is actually somewhat toward indigo assuming indigo is accepted as a separate spectrum color, usually quoted as having a range of from about 420 to 450 nanometers.^[3] Another name for this color is near violet.

Electric violet

Electric Violet
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#8F00FF
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(143, 0, 255)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(44, 100, 0, 0)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(274°, 100%, 100[4]%)
Source	HTML Color Chart @274
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

The color at right, electric violet, is the closest approximation to middle spectrum violet that can be made on a computer screen, given the limitations of the sRGB color gamut. It is an approximation of the color violet at about 400 nanometers as plotted on the CIE chromaticity diagram, in the middle of the violet range of from 420 nanometers to 380 nanometers, assuming indigo as a separate spectrum color from 450 to 420 nanometers.^[5] Other names for this color are middle violet or simply violet.

Vivid violet

Vivid Violet
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#9F00FF
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(159, 0, 255)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(38, 100, 0, 0)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(277°, 100%, 100[6]%)
Source	HTML Color Chart @277
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

Displayed at right is the color vivid violet, a color approximately equivalent to the violet seen at the extreme edge of human visual perception. When plotted on the CIE chromaticity diagram, it can be seen that this is a hue corresponding to that of a visual stimulus of approximately 380 nm on the spectrum. Thus another name for this color is extreme violet.

Computer web color violets

Violet (web color)
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#EE82EE
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(238, 130, 238)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(300°, 45%, 93[7]%)
Source	X11[8] X11 color names[9]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Web color "violet"

The so-called web color "violet" is in actuality not really a tint of violet, a spectral color, but is a non-spectral color. The web color violet is actually a rather pale tint of magenta because it has equal amounts of red and blue (the definition of magenta for computer display), and some of the green primary mixed in, unlike most other variants of violet that are closer to blue. This same color appears as "violet" in the X11 color names.

Dark Violet
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#9400D3
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(148, 0, 211)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(29, 100, 0, 17)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(282°, 100%, 83[10]%)
Source	X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

Pigment violet (web color dark violet)

The color box at right displays the web color dark violet which is equivalent to pigment violet, i.e., the color violet as it would typically be reproduced by artist's paints, colored pencils, or crayons as opposed to the brighter "electric" violet above that it is possible to reproduce on a computer screen.

Compare the subtractive colors to the additive colors in the two primary color charts in the article on primary colors to see the distinction between electric colors as reproducible from light on a computer screen (additive colors) and the pigment colors reproducible with pigments (subtractive colors); the additive colors are a lot brighter because they are produced from light instead of pigment.

Pigment violet (web color dark violet) represents the way the color violet was always reproduced in pigments, paints, or colored pencils in the 1950s. By the 1970s, because of the advent of psychedelic art, artists became used to brighter pigments, and pigments called "Violet" that are the pigment equivalent of the electric violet reproduced in the section above became available in artists pigments and colored pencils. (When approximating electric violet in artists pigments, a bit of white pigment is added to pigment violet.)

Additional variations of violet

Mauve

Mauve (Mallow)
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#E0B0FF
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(224, 176, 255)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(12, 31, 0, 0)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(276°, 31%, 100[11]%)
Source	Maerz and Paul[12]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

Mauve (from the French form of Malva "mallow") is a color that is named after the mallow flower. Another name for the color is mallow^[13] with the first recorded use of mallow as a color name in English in 1611.^[14]

Since the color mauve has a hue code of 276, it may be regarded as a pale tone of violet.

Lavender

Lavender
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#B57EDC
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(181, 126, 220)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(18, 43, 0, 14)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(275°, 43%, 86[15]%)
Source	Maerz and Paul[16]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

At right is displayed the color lavender. This color may also be called lavender (floral) or floral lavender to distinguish it from the web color lavender. It is the color of the central part of the lavender flower.

The first recorded use of the word lavender as a color term in English was in 1705.^[17]

Since the color lavender has a hue code of 275, it may be regarded as a light tone of violet.

French violet

Violet (Pourpre.com)
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#8806CE
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(136, 6, 206)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(34, 97, 0, 19)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(279°, 97%, 81[18]%)
Source	Pourpre.com
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

At right is displayed the color French violet, which is the tone of violet that is called violet in the Pourpre.com color list, a color list widely popular in France.

African violet

African Violet
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#B284BE
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(178, 132, 190)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(6, 31, 0, 26)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(288°, 31%, 75[19]%)
Source	Pantone TPX[20]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

The color African violet is displayed at right.

The source of this color is the "Pantone Textile Paper eXtended (TPX)" color list, color #16-3250 TPX—African Violet.^[21]

Chinese violet

Chinese Violet
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#856088
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(133, 96, 136)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(2, 29, 0, 47)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(296°, 29%, 53[22]%)
Source	Pantone TPX[23]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

The color Chinese violet is displayed at right.

The first recorded use of Chinese violet as a color name in English was in 1912.^[24]

The source of this color is the "Pantone Textile Paper eXtended (TPX)" color list, color #18-3418 TPX—Chinese Violet.^[25]

Grape

Grape
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#6F2DA8
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(111, 45, 168)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(34, 73, 0, 34)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(272°, 73%, 65%)
Source	Crayola
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

Grape is a color that is a representation of the color of grapes.

In 1994, "grape" was formulated as one of the Crayola Magic Scent crayon colors.

Spanish violet

Violet (G&S)
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#4C2882
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(76, 40, 130)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(90, 100, 0, 0)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(264°, 69%, 51%)
Source	Gallego and Sanz[26]
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

Spanish violet is the color that is called Violeta (the Spanish word for "violet") in the Guía de coloraciones (Guide to colorations) by Rosa Gallego and Juan Carlos Sanz, a color dictionary published in 2005 that is widely popular in the Hispanophone realm.

Japanese violet

Violet (JTC)
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#5B3256
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(91, 50, 86)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(0, 45, 6, 64)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(307°, 45%, 36[27]%)
Source	JTC
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

The color Japanese violet is shown at right.

This is the color that is called violet in the Japanese traditional colors, a group of colors in use since beginning in 660 CE in the form of various dyes that are used in designing kimonos.^[28][29]

The name of this color in Japanese is sumire-iro, which means violet color.

English violet

English Violet
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#563C5C
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(86, 60, 92)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(7, 35, 0, 64)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(289°, 35%, 36[30]%)
Source	ISCC NBS
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

The color English violet is displayed at right.

The first recorded use of English violet as a color name in English was in 1928.^[31]

Russian violet

Russian Violet
Color coordinates
Hex triplet	#32174D
sRGB^B  (r, g, b)	(50, 23, 77)
CMYK^H   (c, m, y, k)	(35, 70, 0, 70)
HSV       (h, s, v)	(270°, 70%, 30[32]%)
Source	ISCC NBS
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

The color Russian violet is displayed at right.

The first recorded use of Russian violet as a color name in English was in 1926.^[33]

Wrapping the spectrum into a color wheel

If the visible spectrum is wrapped to form a color wheel, violet (additive secondary) appears midway between blue and magenta:

Visible spectrum wrapped to join violet and blue in an additive mixture of violet

See also

• Carmine (color)
• Cerise (color)
• Crimson (color)
• Indigo
• Lavender (color)
• List of colors
• Magenta
• Mauve
• Periwinkle (color)
• Purple
• Raspberry (color)
• Red-violet
• Rose (color)
• Ruby (color)
• Shades of purple
• Ultramarine
• Shades of magenta

References

1. web.Forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to color #7F00FF (Color Wheel Violet):
2. In the HSV color space, mapped by the sRGB color rendition system, the color violet (color wheel) is defined as the color with a hue of 270 degrees, which is the color exactly half way between blue and magenta on the RGB color wheel.
3. Encyclopedia of Physics—Google Book Result:
4. web.Forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to color #8F00FF (Electric Violet):
5. Encyclopedia of Physics—Google Book Result:
6. web.Forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to color #9F00FF (Vivid Violet):
7. web.forrett.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code #EE82EE (Web color "violet"):
8. W3C TR CSS3 Color Module, SVG color keywords. W3C. (May 2003). Retrieved on 30 January 2008.
9. "X11 rgb.txt".
10. web.Forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to color #9400D3 (Dark Violet):
11. web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #E0B0FF (Mauve):
12. The color displayed in the color box above matches the color called mauve in the 1930 book by Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill; the color "mallow" is displayed on Page 125, Plate 51, Color Sample I3 Note: It is stated in A Dictionary of Color that mallow and mauve are two different names used in English to refer to exactly the same color--the name mallow came into use in 1611 and mauve came into use as its synonym in 1856--see under the entry for each name on page 198 in the Index. See also discussion of the color Mallow (Mauve) on page 166.
13. Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 198
14. Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 198; Color Sample of Mallow: Page 125 Plate 51 Color Sample I3
15. web.forrett.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code #B57EDC (Lavender (Floral)):
16. The color displayed in the color box above matches the color called lavender in the 1930 book by Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill; the color lavender is displayed on page 109, Plate 43, Color Sample C5.
17. Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York: 1930 McGraw-Hill Page 197
18. web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #8806CE (French Violet):
19. web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #B284BE (African Violet):
20. Type the words "African Violet" into the indicated window on the Pantone Color Finder and the color will appear.
21. Pantone TPX Pantone Color Finder Type the words "African Violet" into the indicated window on the Pantone Color Finder and the color will appear
22. web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #856088 (Chinese Violet):
23. Type the words "Chinese Violet" into the indicated window on the Pantone Color Finder and the color will appear.
24. Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 192; Color Sample of Chinese Violet: Page 107 Plate 42 Color Sample I7
25. Pantone TPX Pantone Color Finder Type the words "Chinese Violet" into the indicated window on the Pantone Color Finder and the color will appear
26. Gallego, Rosa; Sanz, Juan Carlos (2005). Guía de coloraciones (Gallego, Rosa; Sanz, Juan Carlos (2005). Guide to Colorations) Madrid: H. Blume. ISBN 84-89840-31-8
27. web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #5B3256 (Japanese Violet):
28. Nagasaki, Seiki. Nihon no dentoshoku : sono shikimei to shikicho, Seigensha, 2001. ISBN 4-916094-53-0
29. Nihon Shikisai Gakkai. Shinpen shikisai kagaku handobukku, Tokyo Daigaku Shuppankai, 1985. ISBN 4-13-061000-7
30. web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #563C5C (English Violet):
31. Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 194; Color Sample of English Violet: Page 111 Plate 44 Color Sample K9
32. web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #32174D (Russian Violet):
33. Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 194; Color Sample of Russian Violet: Page 111 Plate 44 Color Sample K11

External links