Palette

Ancient Vellum Ink

Muted tones of aged parchment and deep sepia, evoking the quiet elegance of an ancient illuminated manuscript.

neutralminimal5 colors

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Preview

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Interface

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A quick look at how Ancient Vellum Ink reads on buttons, badges, and alerts before you commit.

This alert border and accent use the palette's detail color.

Marketing banner

Launch

Built with Ancient Vellum Ink.

A bolder treatment that stretches the primary and secondary colors across a full gradient banner.

Data visualization

#F8F5EA#E8E0CE#C9BB9A#6C5B49#4B3E32

Palette guide

How to use Ancient Vellum Ink

Overview

The Ancient Vellum Ink palette offers muted tones of aged parchment and deep sepia, evoking the quiet elegance of illuminated manuscripts. This collection features light #F8F5EA, soft #E8E0CE, warm #C9BB9A, deep #6C5B49, and rich #4B3E32. Designers can leverage these historical hues to infuse projects with a sense of antiquity, refinement, and minimalist charm. Ideal for conveying authenticity and a scholarly aesthetic, this palette is versatile for both digital interfaces and print materials, bringing a timeless, sophisticated simplicity to any design.

Best used for

Historical society websites and publications
Luxury stationery and invitation design
Art and calligraphy portfolio websites
Museum exhibit branding for ancient artifacts
Vintage-inspired product packaging
Documentary film titles and credits

Suggested color roles

primary

Use #4B3E32 for strong headings, primary buttons, or dominant branding elements, conveying depth and a rich, traditional feel.

secondary

Employ #6C5B49 or #C9BB9A for subheadings, key information sections, or complementary graphic elements, providing a warm, balanced tone.

accent

Introduce #E8E0CE or #F8F5EA for subtle calls-to-action, interactive states, or delicate decorative details, adding a touch of aged luminosity.

background

#F8F5EA or #E8E0CE make excellent clean, parchment-like backgrounds, offering a sense of openness and historical context.

text

For optimal readability, use #4B3E32 or #6C5B49 on lighter backgrounds like #F8F5EA. A dark charcoal or black is recommended for body text.

Accessibility notes

Ensure sufficient contrast between dark text (e.g., #4B3E32) and light backgrounds (e.g., #F8F5EA or #E8E0CE).
Avoid using lighter shades like #F8F5EA for small text on similar light backgrounds without checking contrast.
Prioritize darker browns for body text to maintain readability across various screen sizes.
Routinely check WCAG AA compliance for all text and interactive elements.

Recommended combinations

Manuscript Page

Ideal for clean content areas, subtle backgrounds, or graphics that evoke the delicate texture of aged vellum.

#F8F5EA · #E8E0CE · #C9BB9A

Sepia Script

Excellent for sophisticated branding, website headers, or design elements that require a rich, traditional, and readable contrast.

#4B3E32 · #6C5B49 · #C9BB9A

Illuminated Detail

Perfect for creating subtle gradients, layered UI components, or illustrations that capture the nuanced beauty of ancient texts.

#6C5B49 · #E8E0CE · #4B3E32

CSS variables

:root {
  --ancient-vellum-ink-1: #F8F5EA;
  --ancient-vellum-ink-2: #E8E0CE;
  --ancient-vellum-ink-3: #C9BB9A;
  --ancient-vellum-ink-4: #6C5B49;
  --ancient-vellum-ink-5: #4B3E32;
}

Tailwind config

theme: {
  extend: {
    colors: {
      "ancient-vellum-ink": {
        1: "#F8F5EA",
        2: "#E8E0CE",
        3: "#C9BB9A",
        4: "#6C5B49",
        5: "#4B3E32",
      }
    }
  }
}

Hex values

Color 1#F8F5EA

Color 2#E8E0CE

Color 3#C9BB9A

Color 4#6C5B49

Color 5#4B3E32

Accessibility

Contrast checker

1.2:1Fail

1.7:1Fail

6:1AA

9.5:1AAA

1.2:1Fail

1.4:1Fail

4.9:1AA

7.9:1AAA

1.7:1Fail

1.4:1Fail

3.4:1AA18

5.4:1AA

6:1AA

4.9:1AA

3.4:1AA18

1.6:1Fail

9.5:1AAA

7.9:1AAA

5.4:1AA

1.6:1Fail

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