Raspberry blush is a gorgeous, feminine shade of pink that flatters a wide variety of skin tones. As a hybrid color that combines soft pink and deep berry tones, raspberry blush can vary slightly in appearance depending on lighting and texture. Determining the exact color specifications of raspberry blush requires looking at its place on the color wheel and its HEX, RGB, CMYK, and Pantone values. While it leans pink, raspberry blush is a nuanced hue with undertones of red that set it apart from other pink shades.
Defining Raspberry Blush
Raspberry blush fits under the umbrella of pink shades but sets itself apart thanks to its vibrant, fruit-inspired twist. As a color that draws inspiration from the ripe raspberry fruit, it is a natural-looking pink with strong red undertones. This gives it a richer, cooler, and more saturated finish than neutral pinks. The name “raspberry blush” evokes the soft flush of pink color present on a ripe raspberry. It has the warm, inviting qualities of a true blush pink paired with the lush, jewel-toned essence of a ripe raspberry. This makes it both soft and striking.
Where Raspberry Blush Falls on the Color Wheel
On the traditional RYB color wheel, raspberry blush falls somewhere between the primary colors of red and blue, skewing closer to red. It is a tertiary color, meaning it is created by combining the primary and secondary colors. Specifically, raspberry blush is made by mixing red and purple (which contains blue) together. On the color wheel, raspberry blush falls in the cool section, due its berry-inspired purple-red tone. However, it has warmer undertones than true purples thanks to its closer placement to red. This gives it a universally flattering, vibrant color palette.
| Primary Color | Secondary Color | Resulting Tertiary Color |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Purple | Raspberry Blush |
HEX Code
HEX color codes are six-digit codes that represent colors in mixing red, green, and blue light. The HEX code for raspberry blush is #E25098. This code indicates:
– E2 (226): The amount of red light, on a scale from 00 (none) to FF (255). Raspberry blush has a moderately high amount of red.
– 50 (80): The amount of green light, on a scale from 00 (none) to FF (255). Raspberry blush has a small amount of green.
– 98 (152): The amount of blue light, on a scale from 00 (none) to FF (255). Raspberry blush has a moderate amount of blue.
This leads to a pink-red color with subtle cool undertones.
RGB Values
The RGB value represents the respective amounts of red, green, and blue light in a given color. RGB values range from 0 to 255. Raspberry blush has RGB values of:
| Color | RGB Value |
|---|---|
| Red | 226 |
| Green | 80 |
| Blue | 152 |
These values mean raspberry blush contains high amounts of red, low amounts of green, and moderate amounts of blue light. This creates the vibrant berry-toned pink shade that characterizes raspberry blush.
CMYK Percentages
While RGB shows the levels of light in a color, CMYK represents percentages of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink used to print a color. The CMYK values for raspberry blush are:
| Color | CMYK Value |
|---|---|
| Cyan | 12% |
| Magenta | 68% |
| Yellow | 0% |
| Black | 22% |
These percentages result in a primarily magenta ink tone, with small amounts of cyan and black to create dimension. The lack of yellow keeps the shade pure without dulling or muddying it.
Pantone Matching System
Pantone is a proprietary standard that produces consistent, matched colors for design purposes using ink mixing. The pre-mixed Pantone color closest to raspberry blush is Pantone 219 C, also known as Cerise Red. This makes sense given raspberry blush leans more red than pure pink. Pantone 219 C helps designers access the signature raspberry blush tone in a consistent, blendable ink formula.
Similar Color Names
Because raspberry blush is such a distinctive shade, it does not have an exact match to other common color names. However, similar colors include:
| Color | Description |
|---|---|
| Bashful Pink | A soft, subdued pink with less vibrance |
| English Rose | A muted, dusty rose tone |
| Fandango Pink | A bright, intense pinkish-red |
| French Rose | A warm, romantic pink |
| Razzmatazz | A highly-saturated raspberry tone |
While shades like bashful pink are softer and English rose more muted, colors like French rose and razzmatazz capture raspberry blush’s balance of pink and red tones. Fandango pink is also quite close in terms of its vibrancy.
The Science of Color Perception
How we perceive color involves our eyes and brain working together. Human eyes contain rod and cone cells that register color information, which is then sent to the brain. Our brains translate wavelengths of light into color perceptions based on memory, association, contrast, and other factors. This makes some variability in color perception normal from person to person. For example, some types of color blindness alter color vision. Context also matters, as colors may appear different against different backgrounds. So while raspberry blush has defined properties, how it is ultimately seen depends on physiology, psychology, and setting.
Cultural Meanings
Color meanings can vary by culture. In the United States and Europe, the color pink carries feminine connotations about sweetness, charm, and romance. Raspberry blush in particular evokes springtime, flowers, fruit, and youth. Its red undertones distinguish it from baby pink, giving it a bolder, richer, and more sensual meaning. The color also fits with the modern Western preference for berry, rose, and pinkish-red hues in fashion and beauty. So raspberry blush carries positive, feminine associations in mainstream American and European cultures today.
Uses and Applications
Thanks to its versatile pink-red tone, raspberry blush lends itself well to many uses and applications:
| Use/Application | Description |
|---|---|
| Fashion | Flattering color for women’s apparel and accessories like blouses, skirts, purses |
| Cosmetics | Lipsticks, blushes, eye shadows, nail polishes |
| Interior Design | Adds a pop of color to walls, pillows, rugs, flowers |
| Special Events | Weddings, baby/bridal showers, birthdays, holidays |
| Art/Graphic Design | Illustrations, paintings, brochures, branding |
| Baking/Candy | Cake icing, macarons, rock candy, gumdrops |
Raspberry blush works beautifully for feminine wardrobes, makeup looks, home décor, celebrations, graphics, and sweets. Its lush, vivid color and natural fruit association make it perfect forfun, playful applications.
Matching Colors
Certain colors complement raspberry blush especially well. Harmonious color combinations include:
| Color | Description |
|---|---|
| Ivory | Softens and lightens raspberry blush |
| Navy | Classic pair that increases contrast |
| Pastel Yellow | Bright, springlike combination |
| Sage Green | Earthy yet feminine balance |
| Gold | Luxurious accent color |
Pairing raspberry blush with softer hues like ivory and pastel yellow softens its impact, while richer navy, sage green, and gold make sophisticated combinations.
Conclusion
With its lush berry-inspired vibrancy, raspberry blush is a stand-out color that flatters, pops, and delights. Defined technically by its HEX code #E25098, RGB values, and Pantone 219 C, raspberry blush mixes pink and red to create a multidimensional, feminine shade. Its blend of cool undertones and warm overtones gives fashion, beauty, design, and more a dose of fresh, fruity fun. Raspberry blush’s rich color symbolism makes it perfect for anything playful, romantic, and charming. So whether it’s clothing, makeup, baking, graphic design, or party decorations, raspberry blush is a lively color choice.
