Yellow colours

The yellow family in numbers

• 18 catalogue colours, from CIELAB lightness 55 to 97 (median 87).
• Most saturated: Yellow; least: Sand. Median chroma 63.
• 10 lean warm, 0 lean cool, 8 sit neutral.
• 0 of 18 are dark enough to use as body text on white (4.5:1).
• 11 of 18 fall within, or at the edge of, what premium coated offset print can reach.

The history of yellow: names, pigments and meanings

What is documented about yellow

True of the family in the stated context, not of every shade in it and not everywhere. See methodology.

• Common association

  Yellow is often associated with cheerfulness and optimism.

• Accessibility

  Yellow's inherently high lightness means yellow text or UI elements on a white background frequently fail WCAG contrast minimums — check contrast carefully before using yellow for text or fine detail.