Software & SaaS
Adobe Color Codes
Adobe's colors are red #ED2224 on the A mark and charcoal #2D2E2D on the wordmark. The Adobe color codes in Hex, RGB and CMYK can be found below. John Warnock and Charles Geschke left Xerox PARC and started the company in Warnock's garage in December 1982, and named it after Adobe Creek, which ran behind the house. The mark itself was drawn by Marva Warnock, John's wife.
Primary colors
What are Adobe Primary Colors?
Adobe's primary color is red #ED2224, with charcoal #2D2E2D carrying the letters.
Adobe publishes no public CMYK or Pantone sheet, so both are shown below as conversions and nearest matches.
Adobe Red
| Hex | #ED2224 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 237, 34, 36 |
| HSL | hsl(359, 85%, 53%) |
| CMYK | 0%, 86%, 85%, 7%converted · approximate |
| Pantone | PMS 1788 Cnearest match · not published by the brand |
Adobe Charcoal
| Hex | #2D2E2D |
|---|---|
| RGB | 45, 46, 45 |
| HSL | hsl(120, 1%, 18%) |
| CMYK | 2%, 0%, 2%, 82%converted · approximate |
| Pantone | PMS 426 Cnearest match · not published by the brand |
Adobe Hex Color Codes
Adobe hex color codes are #ED2224 for red and #2D2E2D for charcoal.
| Color | Hex |
|---|---|
| Red | #ED2224 |
| Charcoal | #2D2E2D |
Adobe RGB Color Codes
Adobe RGB color codes are 237, 34, 36 for red and 45, 46, 45 for charcoal. Reach for RGB when a tool wants channel numbers or a CSS alpha value.
| Color | RGB |
|---|---|
| Red | rgb(237, 34, 36) |
| Charcoal | rgb(45, 46, 45) |
Adobe HSL Color Codes
Adobe HSL color codes are 359, 85%, 53% for red and 120, 1%, 18% for charcoal. Change the third value for a lighter or darker version without moving the hue.
| Color | HSL |
|---|---|
| Red | hsl(359, 85%, 53%) |
| Charcoal | hsl(120, 1%, 18%) |
Adobe CMYK Color Code
Adobe CMYK color codes are conversions from the hex, because the brand publishes none. Check a printed proof before a full run.
| Color | CMYK |
|---|---|
| Red | 0%, 86%, 85%, 7% |
| Charcoal | 2%, 0%, 2%, 82% |
Adobe Pantone Color Codes
Adobe Pantone color codes are nearest matches by color distance, not brand specs. The table shows the closest swatch for every color.
| Color | Nearest Pantone |
|---|---|
| Red | PMS 1788 C |
| Charcoal | PMS 426 C |
Logo
Adobe Logo Colors
Adobe logo colors are red on the stylized A and charcoal on the wordmark beside it.
Adobe Logo Colors Palette
What the Adobe Logo Colors Mean?
The Adobe logo colors sit on a letter that is also a shape. The A is drawn as a solid triangle with a notch cut out of it, so it reads as a letter and as a mountain at the same time, and the red keeps it legible when it shrinks to a 16px app icon. Charcoal rather than pure black on the wordmark is the quieter decision: it stops the lockup vibrating against the red. Watch the value if you are matching it, because #FF0000 circulates widely as Adobe's red and pure red is not what the mark uses.
Adobe Logo Color History
Adobe logo color history runs through several refinements of the same idea. The stylized A has been the mark since the company's earliest years, and a further redraw landed in 2024. Red has held throughout. What has moved is the second color, from black toward the softer charcoal used now.
Adobe Logo JPG
Adobe logo in JPG. No transparency, so it is flattened onto white. Safe for documents and slide decks.
Adobe Logo PNG
Adobe logo in PNG, with a transparent background. Use it over a colored surface.
Adobe Logo WebP
Adobe logo in WebP. Same transparency as the PNG at about a third of the file size.
Adobe Color Code Shades
Adobe color code shades step evenly from the primary toward black, for hover states, borders and shadows.
These are interface steps, not Adobe paint or trim names.
In code
Using the Adobe palette
CSS custom properties
:root {
--adobe-red: #ED2224;
--adobe-charcoal: #2D2E2D;
}Contrast against white
| Red | 4.33:1AA × |
|---|---|
| Charcoal | 13.63:1AA ✓ |
Brand colors are chosen for recognition, not for legibility. A failing value here is normal. It means use it as a fill, not as text.