There are several shades of purple that are close to pink. The proximity of a shade of purple to pink depends on how much red it contains compared to blue. As purple contains both red and blue, increasing the red tones while decreasing the blue tones will make a purple closer to pink. Some key factors when evaluating purple shades close to pink include the HEX code, RGB values, HSL values, and visual appearance.
Key Shades of Purple Close to Pink
Here are some key purple shades that are close to pink:
- Lavender – #E6E6FA
- Thistle – #D8BFD8
- Plum – #DDA0DD
- Orchid – #DA70D6
- Medium orchid – #BA55D3
- Pale violet red – #DB7093
- Medium violet red – #C71585
These shades have high amounts of red compared to blue, pushing them closer to pink on the color spectrum. Lavender, thistle, plum, and orchid are more softly vivid purples with subtle blue tones. Pale violet red and medium violet red contain more red with less blue for bolder, richer pinkish purples.
HEX Codes
The HEX code is a way to specify colors for digital design and web development. HEX codes consist of six digits from 0 to F that represent the RGB color values. Shades of purple close to pink will have higher values for the red and lower values for the blue in their HEX codes.
| Shade | HEX Code |
|---|---|
| Lavender | #E6E6FA |
| Thistle | #D8BFD8 |
| Plum | #DDA0DD |
| Orchid | #DA70D6 |
| Pale violet red | #DB7093 |
| Medium violet red | #C71585 |
As seen in the table, shades closer to pink like pale violet red have higher values in the hundreds place for red (D and C) and lower values in the blue ten thousands and thousands places (7, 8, and 5).
RGB Values
The RGB color model uses amounts of red, green, and blue light to create colors on screens. Purple shades near pink will have higher RGB red values and lower blue values.
| Shade | Red | Green | Blue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orchid | 218 | 112 | 214 |
| Plum | 221 | 160 | 221 |
| Medium orchid | 186 | 85 | 211 |
| Thistle | 216 | 191 | 216 |
| Lavender | 230 | 230 | 250 |
The RGB values show that thistle, plum, and lavender have higher blue amounts for soft purples, while orchid and medium orchid have lower blue for pinker purples.
HSL Values
The HSL (hue, saturation, lightness) color model also defines purple shades. Hue refers to position on the color wheel, saturation is the intensity, and lightness is how light or dark. Purples near pink will have hues closer to the red area of the color wheel.
| Shade | Hue | Saturation | Lightness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium violet red | 322 | 83% | 53% |
| Pale violet red | 340 | 60% | 65% |
| Plum | 300 | 60% | 65% |
| Lavender | 240 | 67% | 94% |
Medium violet red and pale violet red have hues closer to 0 degrees, which is red on the color wheel. Plum and lavender have more blue-based hues around 300 degrees.
Visual Appearance
The visual appearance of purple shades provides the ultimate determination of their proximity to pink. While technical color specifications are helpful, seeing swatches of the shades provides real-world context.
Some guidelines for identifying purple shades nearer pink:
- More red or magenta tones
- Less blue tones
- Richer, bolder color
- Contains a certain softness
- Evokes floral qualities
Colors like lavender and thistle appear soft because they contain both pink and blue tones. Shades with more pure red-violet like orchid and violet red look bold while still appearing delicate and feminine.
Uses of These Colors
These pinkish purples are widely used for:
- Flowers and flower arrangements
- Candies, cupcakes, and other desserts
- Women’s fashion and accessories
- Wedding color schemes
- Feminine bedroom paint colors and decor
- Scrapbooking and craft supplies
They evoke springtime, romance, and femininity. Soft pastel versions like lavender and thistle work well for Easter eggs, baby showers, and vintage themes. Bolder magenta-infused shades like orchid and plum create rich, luxurious looks.
Creating Your Own Pinkish Purples
You can create custom shades of purple close to pink by mixing colors. Some options:
- Combine pink and purple paints or dye
- Add a pink gel filter to purple lighting
- Overlay pink graphics on purple backgrounds
- Blend pink and purple icing
- Mix purple and pink when tie-dying
- Weave pink and purple threads together
Experiment with different pink and purple ratios to achieve subtler pastel lavenders or vivid fuchsia-tinged purples. Adjusting the amounts of red and blue is key.
Conclusion
Shades of purple that are close to pink contain higher amounts of red and lower amounts of blue compared to other purples. Key shades include lavender, thistle, plum, orchid, and violet red. Technical color specifications in HEX, RGB, and HSL models help identify the proximity to pink, but visual appearance provides the ultimate determination.
Pinkish purples evoke spring flowers, romance, and femininity. They are widely used for floral themes, desserts, fashion, and wedding decor. You can create custom shades by mixing pink and purple colors together in various ratios.
