Magenta (/məˈdʒɛntə/) is a purple-red color.[2][3] On color wheels of the RGB (additive) and CMY (subtractive) color models, it is located precisely midway between blue and red. It is one of the four colors of ink used in color printing by most color printers, along with yellow, cyan, and black to make all the other colors. The tone of magenta used in printing, printer's magenta, is redder than the magenta of the RGB (additive) model, the former being closer to rose.
Magenta took its name from an aniline dye made and patented in 1859 by the French chemist François-Emmanuel Verguin, who originally called it fuchsine. It was renamed to celebrate the French-Sardinian victory under French Emperor Napoleon III at the Battle of Magenta against the larger army of the Austrian Empire on 4 June 1859 near the Italian town of Magenta, at the time in Austria. This battle was decisive in liberating Italy from Austrian domination.[4][5]
A virtually identical color, called roseine, was created in 1860 by two British chemists, Edward Chambers Nicholson, and George Maule.
The web color magenta is also called fuchsia.
In optics and color science[edit] Magenta is not part of the visible spectrum of light.Magenta is an extra-spectral color, meaning that no color of the visible spectrum has magenta's hue. Magenta is associated with perception of spectral power distributions concentrated mostly in two bands: longer welength reddish components and shorter welength blueish components.[6]
Magenta is the complementary color of green; thus, mixing one specific shade of magenta light and one specific shade of green light will result in white light.
In the RGB color system, used to create all the colors on a television or computer display, magenta is a secondary color, made by combining equal amounts of red and blue light at a high intensity.
Cone cell response curves. Note that a magenta response is elicited in the brain by stimulating S and L cones and little to no M stimulus.In the CMYK color model, used in color printing, it is one of the three primary colors, along with cyan and yellow, used to print all the rest of the colors. If magenta, cyan, and yellow are printed on top of each other on a page, they make black. If combined, magenta ink plus ink of its complementary color, green, will result in a dark brown or black.
In terms of physiology, the color is stimulated in the brain when the eye reports input from short we blue cone cells along with a sub-sensitivity of the long we cones which respond secondarily to that same deep blue color, but with little or no input from the middle we cones. The brain interprets that combination as some hue of magenta or purple, depending on the relative strengths of the cone responses.
In the Munsell color system, magenta is called red-purple.
In the RGB color model, used to make colors on computer and television displays, magenta is created by the combination of equal amounts of blue and red light. In the RGB color wheel of additive colors, magenta is midway between blue and red. In the CMYK color model, used in color printing, cyan, magenta, and yellow combined make black. In practice, since the inks are not perfect, some black ink is added. Visible spectrum wrapped to join violet and red in an additive mixture of magenta. In reality, violet and red are at opposite ends of the spectrum and he very different welengths. Fuchsia and magenta[edit]The web colors fuchsia and magenta are identical, made by mixing the same proportions of blue and red light. In design and printing, there is more variation. The French version of fuchsia in the RGB color model and in printing contains a higher proportion of red than the American version of fuchsia.[7]
Gallery[edit] The flower of the Fuchsia plant was the original inspiration for the dye, which was later renamed magenta dye. Magenta took its name in 1860 from this aniline dye that was originally called "fuchsine", after the fuchsia flower. Magenta has been used in color printing since the late nineteenth century. Images are printed in three colors; magenta, cyan, and yellow, which when combined can make all colors. This image from 1902 is using the alternative RYB color model instead. Color printers today use magenta, cyan, and yellow ink to produce the full range of colors. Magenta is the complementary color of green. The two colors combined in the RGB model form white. The Indonesian Marine Corps beret color is magenta purple. History[edit] Fuchsine and magenta dye (1859)[edit] An 1864 map showing the Duchy of Bouillon in magentaThe color magenta was the result of the industrial chemistry revolution of the mid-nineteenth century. It began with the invention of mauveine by William Perkin in 1856, the first synthetic aniline dye. The enormous commercial success of the dye and the new color it produced, mauve, inspired other chemists in Europe to develop new colors made from aniline dyes.[4]
In France, François-Emmanuel Verguin, the director of the chemical factory of Louis Rafard near Lyon, tried many different formulae before finally in late 1858 or early 1859, mixing aniline with carbon tetrachloride, producing a reddish-purple dye which he called "fuchsine", after the color of the flower of the fuchsia plant.[8] He quit the Rafard factory and took his color to a firm of paint manufacturers, Francisque and Joseph Renard, who began to manufacture the dye in 1859.
In the same year, two British chemists, Edward Chambers Nicholson and George Maule, working at the laboratory of the paint manufacturer George Simpson, located in Walworth, south of London, made another aniline dye with a similar red-purple color, which they began to manufacture in 1860 under the name "roseine". In 1860, they changed the name of the color to "magenta", in honor of the Battle of Magenta fought by the armies of France and Sardinia against Austrians at Magenta, Lombardy the year before, and the new color became a commercial success.[4][9]
Starting in 1935, the family of quinacridone dyes was developed. These he colors ranging from red to violet, so nowadays a quinacridone dye is often used for magenta. Various tones of magenta—light, bright, brilliant, vivid, rich, or deep—may be formulated by adding varying amounts of white to quinacridone artist's paints.
Another dye used for magenta is Lithol Rubine BK. One of its uses is as a food coloring.
Process magenta (pigment magenta; printer's magenta) (1890s)[edit] Process magenta (subtractive primary, sRGB approximation) Color coordinatesHex triplet#FF0090sRGBB (r, g, b)(255, 0, 144)HSV (h, s, v)(326°, 100%, 100%)CIELChuv (L, C, h)(55, 137, 350°)Source[Unsourced]ISCC–NBS descriptorVivid purplish redB: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)In color printing, the color called process magenta, pigment magenta, or printer's magenta is one of the three primary pigment colors which, along with yellow and cyan, constitute the three subtractive primary colors of pigment. (The secondary colors of pigment are blue, green, and red.) As such, the hue magenta is the complement of green: magenta pigments absorb green light; thus magenta and green are opposite colors.
The CMYK printing process was invented in the 1890s, when newspapers began to publish color comic strips.
Process magenta is not an RGB color, and there is no fixed conversion from CMYK primaries to RGB. Different formulations are used for printer's ink, so there may be variations in the printed color that is pure magenta ink.
Web colors magenta and fuchsia[edit] Magenta (Fuchsia) Color coordinatesHex triplet#FF00FFsRGBB (r, g, b)(255, 0, 255)HSV (h, s, v)(300°, 100%, 100%)CIELChuv (L, C, h)(60, 137, 308°)SourceX11ISCC–NBS descriptorVivid purpleB: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)The web color magenta is one of the three secondary colors in the RGB color model. On the RGB color wheel, magenta is the color between rose and violet, and halfway between red and blue.
This color is called magenta in X11 and fuchsia in HTML. In the RGB color model, it is created by combining equal intensities of red and blue light. The two web colors magenta and fuchsia are exactly the same color. Sometimes the web color magenta is called electric magenta or electronic magenta.
While the magenta used in printing and the web color he the same name, they he important differences. Process magenta (the color used for magenta printing ink—also called printer's or pigment magenta) is much less vivid than the color magenta achievable on a computer screen. CMYK printing technology cannot accurately reproduce on paper the color on the computer screen. When the web color magenta is reproduced on paper, it is called fuchsia and it is physically impossible for it to appear on paper as vivid as on a computer screen.
Colored pencils and crayons called "magenta" are usually colored the color of process magenta (printer's magenta).
In science and culture[edit] In art[edit] Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) used a shade of magenta in 1890 in his portrait of Marie Lagadu, and in some of his South Seas paintings. Henri Matisse and the members of the Fauvist movement used magenta and other non-traditional colors to surprise viewers, and to move their emotions through the use of bold colors. Since the mid-1960s, water based fluorescent magenta paint has been ailable to paint psychedelic black light paintings. (Fluorescent cerise, fluorescent chartreuse yellow, fluorescent blue, and fluorescent green.) Magenta, along with mauve, made with the newly discovered aniline dyes, became a popular fashion color in the second half of the nineteenth century. It appeared in art in this 1890 work, Psyche, by Bouguereau. Paul Gauguin, Portrait of Marie Lagadu (1890). Henri Matisse, Les toits de Collioure (1905). Henri Matisse and the other painters of the Fauvist movement were the first to make a major use of magenta to surprise and make an impact on the emotions of the viewer. In the 1960s, magenta was a popular color in psychedelic art, such as this concert poster for the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco (1967). In literature[edit] The color plays a central role in Craig Laurance Gidney's novel A Spectral Hue. In film[edit] The titular alien entity in the 2019 horror film Color Out of Space, an adaptation of the 1927 H. P. Lovecraft short story The Colour Out of Space, is depicted as being magenta due to the color's extra-spectral status. In astronomy[edit] Astronomers he reported that spectral class T brown dwarfs (the ones with the coolest temperatures except for the recently discovered Y brown dwarfs) are colored magenta because of absorption by sodium and potassium atoms of light in the green portion of the spectrum.[10][11][12] Artist's vision of a spectral class T brown dwarf In biology: magenta insects, birds, fish, and mammals[edit] Coral from the Persian Gulf An Andean flamingo, (Phoenicopterus andinus) A dragonfly, or Anisoptera Ana Cotta Pseudanthias tuka, a reef fish from the Indian Ocean In botany[edit]Magenta is a common color for flowers, particularly in the tropics and sub-tropics. Because magenta is the complementary color of green, magenta flowers he the highest contrast with the green foliage, and therefore are more visible to the animals needed for their pollination.[citation needed]
Orchid Phalaenopsis Rhododendron Clematis "Sunset" Geranium sanguineum Dahlia "Hillcrest Royal" Rambler rose Syringa "Paul Deschanel" Lily "Malinoviy Zvon" Polemoniaceae, or phlox A cactus flower Achillea "Staroe Burgundskoe" Mirabilis jalapa "Four O'Clock Flower" In business[edit]The German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom uses a magenta logo. It has sought to prevent use of any similar color by other businesses, even those in unrelated fields, such as the insurance company Lemonade.[13]
In public transport[edit]Magenta was the English name of Tokyo's Oedo subway line color. It was later changed to ruby. It is also the color of the Metropolitan line of the London Underground.
In transportation[edit]In aircraft autopilot systems, the path that pilot or plane should follow to its destination is usually indicated in cockpit displays using the color magenta.[14]
In numismatics[edit]The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a Magenta colored banknote of ₹2000 denomination on 8 November 2016 under Mahatma Gandhi New Series. This is the highest currency note printed by RBI that is in active circulation in India.
Indian 2000 rupee note, obverse Indian 2000 rupee note, reverse In vexillology and heraldry[edit]Magenta is an extremely rare color to find on heraldic flags and coats of arms,[15] since its adoption dates back to relatively recent times. However, there are some examples of its use:
Cantabrian Labarum, Cantabria, Spain. Canting arms of the commune of Magenta, France. Flag of the municipality of Cartago, Colombia. In politics[edit] The Austrian NEOS party flag Throughout much of Europe, the color of magenta (or variants of such, such as Pink or Amaranth) is used to symbolise social liberalism or classical liberalism[16] The color magenta is used to symbolize anti-racism by the Amsterdam-based anti-racism Magenta Foundation.[17] In Danish politics, magenta is the color of Det Radikale Venstre, the Danish social-liberal party. In Austrian politics, it is used to represent NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum, a social liberal party. In Belgium, it is used by DéFI, a social liberal party. In Germany, Magenta is one of the colors of the Free Democratic Party, or FDP. See also[edit] Fuchsia (color) List of colors Rose Shades of magenta References[edit] ^ CSS Color Module Level 3 ^ Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (1964) ^ definition of magenta in Oxford dictionary (American English) (US) ^ a b c Philip Ball (2001). Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color (illustrated ed.). University of Chicago Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-0226036281. Retrieved 27 July 2014. Originally referenced from French edition pp. 311–312 ISBN 978-2754105033 ^ St. Clair, Kassia (2016). The Secret Lives of Color. London: John Murray. pp. 167–168. ISBN 978-1473630819. OCLC 936144129. ^ Parkin, Alan (2015). Digital Imaging Primer. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 278. ISBN 978-3540856191. ^ "Fuchsia Color: Meaning & Symbolism, Difference with Magenta". 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2025-07-21. ^ St. Clair, Kassia (2016). The Secret Lives of Colour. London: John Murray. pp. 16–168. ISBN 978-1473630819. OCLC 936144129. ^ Maerz and Paul. A Dictionary of Color, New York: 1930 McGraw-Hill. p. 126 Plate 52 Color Sample K12–Magenta ^ Brown Dwarves (go halfway down the website to see a picture of a magenta brown dwarf) ^ Burrows et al. The theory of brown dwarfs and extrasolar giant planets. Reviews of Modern Physics 2001; 73: 719–765 ^ An Artist's View of Brown Dwarf Types Archived 2011-11-17 at the Wayback Machine (26 June 2002) Dr. Robert Hurt of the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center ^ Slefo, George P. (November 4, 2019). "T-Mobile says it owns exclusive rights to the color magenta". Ad Age. Retrieved 2019-11-06. ^ Mingle, Katie (2015-06-23). "Children of the Magenta (Automation Paradox, pt. 1)". 99% Invisible. ^ "coat of arms | Definition, History, Symbols, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-05-11. ^ "Liberal Party Colours" (PDF). www.liberalhistory.org.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2025. ^ Magenta Foundation. Organization website Archived 2006-08-27 at the Wayback Machine. External links[edit] Pictures of actual aniline dye samples in various shades of magenta. Magenta is a product of the brain rather than a spectral frequency Color Mixing and the Mystery of Magenta Archived 2017-02-16 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Institution video vteWeb colorsHexadecimal White Gray/Grey Red Yellow Lime Aqua/Cyan Blue Fuchsia/Magenta Silver Black Maroon Olive Green Teal Ny blue Purple Category vteShades of magenta African VioletAmaranthAmaranth purpleBaker-Miller pinkCarmineCeriseChinese VioletCrimsonDark MagentaEggplant English VioletFandangoFinnFuchsiaHot magentaLilacMagenta dyeMagenta (CMYK)Magenta (RGB)Magenta (Crayola) Magenta (Pantone)Magenta hazeMulberryOrchidPlumPurplePurple pizzazzQuinacridone magentaRaspberryRazzle dazzle rose Red-violetRoseRose pinkRose quartzShocking pinkShocking pink (Crayola)Steel pinkSky magentaTelemagentaThistle (Crayola) Violet (JTC)Violet (web color) A typical sample is shown for each name; a range of color-variations is commonly associated with each color-name. vteShades of red Alizarin crimsonAmaranthBarn redBittersweet shimmerBlood redBrink pinkBurgundyCandy apple redCantaloupe melonCardinal CarmineCarnelianCeriseChili redChocolate cosmosCinnabarClaretCoquelicotCoralCordovan CrimsonDark redFalun redFire brickFire engine redFollyGarnetImperial redIron oxide redJasper Light coralLight redMadderMahoganyMaroonMisty roseOff-red (RGB)Old roseOxbloodPersian red Pigment redPinkPoppyRaspberryRedRed-brownRed (Crayola)Red (Munsell)Red (NCS)Red (Pantone) RedwoodRoseRose ebonyRose redRose taupeRose valeRosewoodRosso corsaRosy brownRuby RustRusty redSalmonSalmon pinkScarletSpanish redTea roseTomatoTurkey redTuscan red Venetian redVermilionWine A typical sample is shown for each name; a range of color-variations is commonly associated with each color-name. vteShades of violet African violetAmarath pinkAmethystBaker-Miller pinkBarbie pinkBlue BellBlue-violetBlurpleBurgundyByzantium Caput mortuumCarnation pinkCelestial BlueCeriseChinese violetCotton candyDark violetDeep pinkEggplantElectric indigo Electric purpleElectric violetEminenceEnglish lenderEnglish violetFairy TaleFandangoFandango pinkFrench mauveFrench violet FuchsiaGrapeHeliotropeHot PinkIndigoIrisJapanese violetJazzberry JamLanguid lenderLender blush Lender (Crayola (I))Lender grayLender pinkLender (floral)Lender (web)LilacMagentaMajorelle BlueMardi GrasMauve MauveineMaximum Blue PurpleMaximum Red PurpleMedium purpleMedium slate blueMexican PinkMiddle Blue PurpleMimi PinkMountbatten pinkMulberry MurreyOld lenderOrchidPalatinatePale lenderPale purplePeriwinklePeriwinkle (Crayola)Persian indigoPersian pink PetuniaPhloxPink LacePink lenderPink (Pantone)Plum (web)Pomp and PowerPucePurplePurple Heart Purple mountain majestyPurpureusRebecca purpleRed-violetRose pinkRoyal purpleRussian violetSlate blueSoapSteel pink TekheletThistleTickle Me PinkTropical indigoTwilight lenderTyrian purpleUltra pinkUltra VioletVeronicaViolet A typical sample is shown for each name; a range of color-variations is commonly associated with each color-name. vteColor topicsColor scienceColor physics Electromagnetic spectrum Light Rainbow Visible Spectral colors Chromophore Structural coloration Animal coloration Color of chemicals Water Spectral power distribution Colorimetry Color perception Chromesthesia Sonochromatism Color blindness Achromatopsia Dichromacy Color calibration Color constancy Color task Color code Color temperature Color vision test Evolution of color vision Impossible colors Metamerism Opponent process Afterimage Unique hues Tetrachromacy The dress Color psychology Color symbolism Color preferences Lüscher color test Kruithof curve Political color National colors Chromophobia Chromotherapy Color reproduction Color photography Color balance Color cast Digital image processing Color management Color printing Multi-primary color display Quattron Color model additive RGB subtractive CMYK Color space Color mapping ColorphilosophyColor scheme Color tool Monochromatic colors Black-and-white Grisaille Complementary colors Analogous colors Achromatic colors (Neutral) Polychromatic colors Light-on-dark Web colors Tinctures in heraldry Color theory Color mixing Primary color Secondary color Chromaticity Color solid Color wheel Color triangle Color analysis (fashion) Color realism (art style) On Vision and Colours (Schopenhauer) Theory of Colours (Goethe) Color termsBasic English terms Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Purple Pink Brown White Gray Black Cultural differences Linguistic relativity and the color naming debate Blue–green distinction in language Color history Black-and-white dualism Blue in culture Color in Chinese culture Traditional colors of Japan Human skin color Color dimensions Hue Dichromatism Colorfulness Pastel colors Luminance Lightness Darkness Brightness Iridescence Fluorescence Grayscale Tint, shade and tone Colororganizations Pantone Color Marketing Group Color Association of the United States International Colour Authority International Commission on Illumination (CIE) International Color Consortium International Colour Association NamesLists List of colors: A–F List of colors: G–M List of colors: N–Z List of colors (compact) List of colors by shade List of color palettes List of color spaces List of Crayola crayon colors history Color chart List of RAL colors List of web colors Shades of: Red Orange Yellow Green Cyan Blue Violet Purple Magenta Pink Brown White Gray Black Related Vision Contrast Qualia Lighting Category Index