Scarlet
Scarlet is a vivid, bright red color, often with a slight orange hue. Its appearance varies with lighting, materials, and color standards.
Scarlet Letter: A red letter A imposed on Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel. The novel made scarlet a lasting symbol of public shame and moral judgment.
Visible spectrum: The range of electromagnetic wavelengths detectable by human vision. Scarlet occupies a region of perceived color associated with long visible wavelengths.
RGB color model: An additive color model that represents colors through red, green, and blue light. Digital scarlet is produced by selecting values in this display-based system.
Scarlet (cloth): A costly, richly dyed woolen cloth historically associated with luxury and rank. The color name developed from the valuable scarlet textiles traded in medieval Europe.
Cardinal (Catholic Church): A senior Catholic cleric who belongs to the College of Cardinals. Cardinals’ scarlet vestments connect the color with ecclesiastical rank and martyrdom.
Hue: The perceived attribute distinguishing color families such as red, green, and blue. Scarlet’s defining feature is its position among red hues.
CMYK color model: A subtractive color model used in color printing, based on cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks. Printed scarlet requires ink mixtures rather than the light used by screens.
Kermes (dye): A red dye made from scale insects of the genus Kermes. Kermes produced costly reds used in scarlet cloth before cochineal became widespread.
Red Flag: A flag or signal used to warn of danger, protest, or political allegiance. Scarlet’s visibility makes it a forceful warning color.
Color saturation: The perceived intensity or purity of a color relative to gray. Scarlet’s vividness comes from strong saturation.