#009CAE · #E94B3C
Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 3/100 (fail) · Harmony 100/100 (complementary) · Distinguishable 100/100 (easy to tell apart) · Match 0/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.
Dark Vivid Cyan and Orange Red are very different (ΔE 107). They have near-opposite hues (179° apart) and their lightness is different, giving a clear light/dark split.
Dark Vivid Cyan text on Orange Red: 1.15:1 (Fail); Orange Red text on Dark Vivid Cyan: 1.15:1 (Fail). Neither meets AA at body size — nudging one color to #001F25 clears it.
Complementary — complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 100/100). This is about how they look together (clothing, interiors, branding), independent of text contrast.
Not at body size — the best direction is only 1.1:1, below the 4.5:1 minimum. Nudging one colour to #001F25 clears AA.
Their CIE76 ΔE is about 107 — very different.
clearly different colours (ΔE 107).
Explore each color: Dark Vivid Cyan #009CAE · Orange Red #E94B3C · Shades: Dark Vivid Cyan shades · Orange Red shades · Contrast checker →