Maroon is a rich, red-brown hue that has existed for centuries. Its name comes from the French word for chestnut, marron. The color has long symbolized strength, wealth and power. In Renaissance paintings, artists favored maroon’s deep shade for clothing and drapery in depictions of nobility and religious figures. In color psychology, maroon evokes a sense of confidence, ambition and maturity, which makes it a popular choice in academic and professional settings. In modern design and fashion, it’s used to inject elegance, warmth and luxury.
The technical specifications of maroon demonstrate its versatility in both digital and print applications. Pure maroon's hex code #800000 represents a balanced mixture of red with black undertones, creating its characteristic deep warmth. In the RGB color space, the code for maroon consists of R: 128, G:0, B:0, making it a distinct color in digital displays and web design. Print applications utilize CMYK values of C:0%, M:100%, Y:100%, K:50%. Professional designers often select maroon for corporate identity systems because it maintains excellent legibility across various sizes and materials.
Other related colors to maroon: