What colors are in the "Pale Lemon Yellow & Orange +2" palette?

Pale Lemon Yellow & Orange +2 contains 4 colors: Pale Lemon Yellow (#ffefae), Orange (#f37420), Turquoise Green (#b5decc), Salvia Blue (#97acc8). From Sanzo Wada's "A Dictionary of Color Combinations" (1933).

When was the "Pale Lemon Yellow & Orange +2" palette created?

This palette is from Sanzo Wada's 1933 reference work "A Dictionary of Color Combinations" (Seigensha Art Publishing 2010 reprint). Wada documented historical Japanese color combinations from the showa era and earlier periods. The source work is in the public domain.

What style or era does the "Pale Lemon Yellow & Orange +2" palette belong to?

Pale Lemon Yellow & Orange +2 is associated with the showa era and emphasizes yellow tones. Plate 272 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Pale Lemon Yellow, Orange, Turquoise Green, Salvia Blue.

Can I use the "Pale Lemon Yellow & Orange +2" palette in my own design?

Yes. The source palette by Sanzo Wada (1933) is in the public domain. This page's curation and metadata are CC BY 4.0 licensed — attribution to colorcombinations.org appreciated but not required for the colors themselves.

Pale Lemon Yellow & Orange +2 — The Dictionary of Color Combinations

About this combination

Combination 272 of 348 in Wada's six-volume 1933 work. A 4-colour grouping of Pale Lemon Yellow, Orange, Turquoise Green, Salvia Blue, as documented in the original plates.

Historical context

This palette is inspired by the tradition of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, which cataloged combinations drawn from centuries of Japanese cultural life. The specific colors here use traditional shikisai names that have been in the public domain for generations.

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Details

Era: Showa
Dominant hue: yellow
Moods: serene, warm, bold
Colors: 4

Accessibility

WCAG contrast ratios between every color pair. Use the strongest combinations for text; the weakest ones make good decorative backgrounds.

Strongest pair: Pale Lemon Yellow on Orange — 2.48:1 (Fail)

Pale Lemon Yellow·Orange2.48:1Fail
Pale Lemon Yellow·Turquoise Green1.27:1Fail
Pale Lemon Yellow·Salvia Blue2.01:1Fail
Orange·Turquoise Green1.95:1Fail
Orange·Salvia Blue1.23:1Fail
Turquoise Green·Salvia Blue1.58:1Fail

How to read this

AAA: Passes WCAG 2.1 AAA for normal text — the highest accessibility bar.
AA: Passes WCAG 2.1 AA for normal text. Standard production requirement.
AA Large: Passes WCAG 2.1 AA for large text only (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold). Avoid for body copy.
Fail: Below WCAG 2.1 AA. Fine for decorative use — not for text.

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Preview

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Related combinations

Three palettes with a similar feel.

Showa era

Pale Lemon Yellow & Pinkish Cinnamon +2

Plate 292 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Pale Lemon Yellow, Pinkish Cinnamon, Isabella Color, Ecru.

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Pale Lemon Yellow & Orange +2

About this combination

Historical context

Embed this palette

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Crimson & Navy— 紅と紺

Pale Blue & Vermillion— 浅葱と朱

Celadon & Unbleached— 青磁と生成

Indigo Blue & Silver— 縹と銀

Grass Yellow & Rikyū Grey— 刈安と利休鼠

Royal Purple & Silver— 紫と銀

Pale Lemon Yellow & Pinkish Cinnamon +2

Pyrite Yellow & Peach Red +2

Lemon Yellow & Apricot Orange +2