Neon colors are bright, vivid colors that seem to glow. They are often associated with neon lighting and signs. Neon colors get their intense appearance from having high values and saturation in the RGB (red, green, blue) color model. Understanding the RGB values of different neon colors can help when trying to recreate these bright colors in graphic design, web design, fashion, and more.
What is the RGB color model?
The RGB color model is a way to create colors by mixing amounts of red, green, and blue light. RGB stands for red, green, blue. In the RGB model, each color is assigned a value from 0-255 for the amount of red, green, and blue it contains. By mixing different amounts of red, green, and blue, millions of colors can be created.
Some key things to know about RGB values:
– RGB values are typically listed in this order: (red, green, blue)
– Each value ranges from 0 (none of that color) to 255 (full amount of that color)
– (255, 255, 255) is pure white
– (0, 0, 0) is pure black
– Equal amounts of red, green and blue make shades of gray
The RGB model is used for digital images, computer screens, TV displays, and online media. Print design mainly uses the CMYK color model instead.
Common neon RGB color values
Here are the RGB values for some common neon colors:
| Neon Color | RGB Value |
|---|---|
| Neon yellow | (255, 255, 0) |
| Neon green | (57, 255, 20) |
| Neon blue | (0, 247, 255) |
| Neon pink | (255, 0, 127) |
| Neon orange | (255, 110, 0) |
| Neon purple | (224, 0, 255) |
| Neon red | (255, 0, 0) |
As you can see, neon colors have high values for one or two of the RGB components, while the remaining component(s) have low values. This creates very vivid, saturated colors.
For example, neon yellow has full red and green (255 each) but no blue (0). Neon purple has high red and blue values but no green.
How RGB values create neon colors
There are a few key factors that make neon colors so bright and attention-grabbing with RGB values:
– **High saturation** – Neon colors are highly saturated, meaning they contain very pure hues and are not muted or shaded with black/white. High RGB values create fully saturated colors.
– **Maximum components** – The primary component(s) in a neon color (like red in neon red) are set to full brightness at 255.
– **Minimal secondary components** – The non-primary components (like green and blue in neon red) are lowered to create a pure hue. But they aren’t zero, which would create black.
– **Lightness** – Neon colors are light to very light. Keeping the RGB values high prevents them from becoming darkened shades.
Custom neon colors
With RGB color mixing, you can create all kinds of unique neon color combinations. Here are some examples of custom neon RGB values:
– Neon lime green: (178, 255, 0)
– Neon cyan: (0, 255, 229)
– Neon magenta: (255, 0, 144)
– Neon orange-yellow: (255, 198, 0)
Tips for picking RGB values for custom neon colors:
– Set one component to full 255 brightness
– Set a second component to around half brightness or higher
– Lower the third component to 0-50 range
– Keep lightness high by avoiding values below 100
Experiment to find the exact neon color you want!
Other ways to represent neon RGB values
RGB color values can also be written in hexadecimal code or as a percentage:
– **Hexadecimal** – This is a base-16 number system using 0-9 and A-F. Red, green, and blue get two digits each. For example, neon red in hex is #FF0000.
– **Percentage** – The RGB values can be converted to percentages by dividing each one by 255 and multiplying by 100. For neon orange, that is RGB(100%, 43%, 0%).
Using neon RGB colors in design
When using neon colors in designs, some best practices include:
– Use neon as accents against neutral backgrounds. Large neon areas can strain the eyes.
– Balance neon text against dark backgrounds for readability.
– Combine neon colors with black, white and grays for contrast.
– Limit to 1-2 neon colors per design for best impact.
– Softened neon tones can work for backgrounds. Use RGB values around 180-230.
– Avoid neon colors for body text. Reserve for headlines, logos, icons, borders, etc.
Conclusion
The vibrant glow of neon colors comes from having high RGB values in one or two components, while keeping the third component low. This creates a saturated, bright color that seems to jump off the screen. While standard neon colors have known RGB values, you can make custom neon colors by following the same principles. Just remember to use neon colors sparingly for maximum visual impact. Knowing the RGB color mixes behind neon can make these electrifying shades easier to use in digital design work.