Top 15 Dark Red Color Palettes for Creative Projects With HEX Codes

Dark red sits between passion and danger, making it one of the most powerful colors you can use on screen. It suggests intensity, luxury, confidence, and sometimes mystery or tension. In video content, dark red instantly draws the eye to titles, calls to action, and key moments in your story, while in branding it helps channels feel bold, memorable, and cinematic.

If you are building YouTube thumbnails, intros, lower thirds, or cinematic color grades, having a reliable dark red color palette with clear HEX codes saves a lot of guesswork. Below are 15 dark red color palettes for creators and Filmora users, complete with HEX codes and practical ideas for thumbnails, titles, overlays, and full video looks.

Moody Cinematic Dark Red Color Palettes

Crimson Noir Frames

• HEX Codes: #120309, #3b000a, #7a0b1a, #d93a3e, #f9e4d7
• Mood: intense, dramatic, and cinematic
• Use for: Perfect for thriller trailers, dramatic title cards, and cinematic vlog sequences that need a bold, moody edge.

This palette locks you into a late night art film mood. The near black crimson tones (#120309, #3b000a) create deep shadows, while the richer reds (#7a0b1a, #d93a3e) slice through with tension and focus. The soft cream highlight (#f9e4d7) keeps text and UI elements readable without breaking the dark, cinematic vibe.

Use Crimson Noir Frames for YouTube thumbnails that tease mystery, cold open title cards, or chapter markers in Filmora. Lay the darkest reds under footage as widescreen bars, use the mid reds for title backgrounds, and reserve the light cream for typography, logos, and subtle lower thirds so your audience always knows where to look.

Pro Tip: Build a Cinematic Dark Red Look in Filmora

To keep a noir style dark red look consistent, treat this palette as your visual rulebook. In Filmora, set up a simple brand kit in your head: use the darkest shade for overlays and letterbox bars, the mid reds for shapes and callouts, and the lightest tone for titles and subtitles. Copy those HEX codes into your text, background, and shape color pickers so every scene feels like part of the same film.

You can also combine this palette with subtle film grain and vignette effects inside Filmora to push the thriller mood. Once you find a combination that works, save it as a custom preset or template so your intros, b roll sequences, and shorts all share the same intense dark red signature.

AI Color Palette

If you have a reference frame or color card using Crimson Noir Frames, you can let Filmora do the heavy lifting. Filmora's AI Color Palette feature analyzes your reference and applies similar dark red tones to other clips, matching contrast and warmth across an entire edit.

Drop a still from your favorite noir movie or your own graded shot into Filmora, use AI Color Palette to match the look, then fine tune. This keeps your thumbnails, intros, and main footage aligned, even if they were shot on different days or cameras.

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HSL, Color Wheels & Curves

Once the overall mood is in place, use Filmora's HSL controls, color wheels, and curves to refine your dark reds. Push reds slightly toward magenta for a stylized thriller, or toward orange for a gritty crime feel. The shadow and midtone color wheels are ideal for tinting your blacks toward #120309 while keeping skin tones natural.

With curves, you can deepen contrast in the shadows to make dark red areas feel richer and more cinematic, while lifting highlights just enough so titles on #f9e4d7 stay crisp. If you need a refresher, explore the Filmora color correction tools overview and then apply those ideas directly to your dark red shots.

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1000+ Video Filters & 3D LUTs

To move even faster, start with Filmora presets and then nudge them toward your dark red palette. Filmora's video filters and 3D LUTs make it easy to add cinematic contrast, vintage fades, or moody shadows before you dial in exact HEX colors for your text and graphics.

Stack a film LUT with a vignette and dust overlay to give Crimson Noir Frames an analog edge. Save that combo as a custom preset so every thriller intro, recap, or highlight reel you make can reuse the same dark red treatment in seconds.

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Velvet Theater Lights

• HEX Codes: #2a020b, #5c0718, #9b1235, #ffb45a, #f4ede6
• Mood: luxurious, theatrical, and bold
• Use for: Great for dramatic intros, fashion lookbooks, and performance highlight reels with a luxe cinema feel.

Velvet Theater Lights pairs plush, velvety reds with rich spotlight gold. The deep base reds (#2a020b, #5c0718) feel like heavy theater curtains, while #9b1235 adds a saturated accent for frames, outlines, or logo marks. The gold (#ffb45a) and soft off white (#f4ede6) mimic warm stage lighting and ticket stub paper.

Use this palette when you want your videos to feel premium and glamorous. In Filmora, try using the darker reds for background shapes behind your text, the gold for animated accent lines or icons, and the off white for clean, legible titles on thumbnails, banners, and social cutdowns.

Midnight Ember Drama

• HEX Codes: #16040b, #3f1020, #7c1c33, #ff7043, #f5f0ea
• Mood: smoldering, energetic, and cinematic
• Use for: Use in action edits, gaming montages, or high-energy trailers that need fiery accents against dark backdrops.

Midnight Ember Drama balances dark berry reds with a fiery orange accent. The base tones (#16040b, #3f1020) are perfect for stormy backgrounds and vignette overlays, while #7c1c33 gives you an intense primary red. The ember orange (#ff7043) ignites key elements like subscribe buttons, combos, or countdowns.

In gaming thumbnails or action intros, place your subject against the deep reds and use orange streaks or light leaks to suggest motion and impact. The pale neutral (#f5f0ea) keeps UI, timers, and labels easy to read, even when the rest of the frame is dark and charged.

Oxblood Film Grain

• HEX Codes: #1c0507, #4a1414, #732323, #c46b3b, #f1e0c5
• Mood: gritty, nostalgic, and grounded
• Use for: Ideal for indie films, documentary titles, and textured overlays that echo vintage film grain.

Oxblood Film Grain mixes earthy reds and browns to create a raw, analog presence. The darker oxblood tones (#1c0507, #4a1414) feel like old cinema seats and worn leather, while #732323 is strong enough for titles without feeling neon. The warm brown (#c46b3b) and cream (#f1e0c5) add the look of aged paper and sun faded posters.

Use this palette for indie documentaries, travel diaries, or music videos that lean into authenticity. Combine it with film grain, dust, and light leak overlays in Filmora to build frames that feel imperfect in a good way, like a rediscovered reel from the archives.

Warm Romantic Dark Red Color Palettes

Garnet Rose Evening

• HEX Codes: #310711, #6a1025, #a8243e, #f48da8, #ffe5ef
• Mood: romantic, soft, and dreamy
• Use for: Beautiful for wedding highlight films, anniversary reels, and romantic storytelling thumbnails.

Garnet Rose Evening flows from deep wine garnet into airy blush tones. The darker reds (#310711, #6a1025) give you a rich base that feels intimate, while #a8243e is an eye catching primary red for key titles or icons. The soft pinks (#f48da8, #ffe5ef) soften everything, making the overall look dreamy and tender.

Use this palette for wedding highlight films, save the date teasers, and romantic vlogs. Put your couple footage over the deep tones, then frame captions or quotes inside the lighter pinks so everything feels gentle, loving, and flattering for skin tones.

Candlelit Burgundy Kiss

• HEX Codes: #2b0308, #59101c, #8d2135, #ffce8a, #fff5e6
• Mood: cozy, intimate, and inviting
• Use for: Great for lifestyle vlogs, date-night edits, and food videos that lean into warmth and comfort.

Candlelit Burgundy Kiss pairs deep burgundy with glowing candlelight gold. The reds (#2b0308, #59101c, #8d2135) feel like a dark wine bar or a restaurant at golden hour, while the warm gold (#ffce8a) and soft cream (#fff5e6) recreate the feel of flickering candles and napkins.

This is a strong choice for cozy lifestyle content, cooking videos, and date night edits. Use burgundy in your background panels or overlays, highlight key callouts with the gold, and keep descriptions, recipe steps, and chapter titles on the brightest cream so everything is both warm and readable.

Blushing Wine Story

• HEX Codes: #3a0714, #7b1230, #b73a4d, #f7a1a0, #fdf2ea
• Mood: sentimental, warm, and story-driven
• Use for: Perfect for storytelling reels, travel diaries, and poetic montage sequences.

Blushing Wine Story blends wine reds with warm blush and cream. The reds (#3a0714, #7b1230, #b73a4d) are rich but not harsh, which works well with diary style storytelling and emotional voiceovers. The blush (#f7a1a0) and pale neutral (#fdf2ea) keep everything light, like pages in a personal journal.

Use this palette for travel diaries and memory driven edits. Place handwritten style fonts over the lightest shade, use mid reds for markers or transitions, and save the deepest red for emphasis on important phrases or dates in your story.

Ruby Letters Home

• HEX Codes: #30040c, #7a0f23, #c52d3d, #ffd39f, #f8f0e3
• Mood: nostalgic, hopeful, and warm
• Use for: Use for nostalgia edits, family compilations, and cozy sit-down videos that feel personal and sincere.

Ruby Letters Home feels like warm lamplight on handwritten notes. The ruby reds (#30040c, #7a0f23, #c52d3d) bring emotional weight and focus, while the golden beige (#ffd39f) and cream (#f8f0e3) look like aged paper or envelopes.

Apply this palette to family compilations, childhood retrospectives, and sit down storytelling videos. Use the lighter tones as background for photos, Polaroid frames, and title cards, with ruby accents for borders, stamps, and underline effects beneath important words.

Modern Minimal Dark Red Color Palettes

Dark Red Studio Grid

• HEX Codes: #26040a, #661020, #a91f3b, #f5f5f5, #111111
• Mood: clean, bold, and professional
• Use for: Great for channel branding, tech reviews, and modern lower thirds that need a crisp studio look.

Dark Red Studio Grid combines sharp reds with pure white and deep black for a strong studio aesthetic. The reds (#26040a, #661020, #a91f3b) give you a confident accent color, while #f5f5f5 and #111111 form a neutral, high contrast backdrop that feels like a modern set.

Use this palette for tech reviews, tutorials, commentary, and general channel branding. Make your logo and subscribe prompts pop in dark red, keep most backgrounds and text in black and white, and use red lines or grids to unify your intros, lower thirds, and end screens.

Clean Maroon Interface

• HEX Codes: #2a050b, #5e1830, #9a3553, #e5e5ea, #fdfdfd
• Mood: minimal, polished, and tech-forward
• Use for: Perfect for UI-style overlays, app mockups, and tutorial graphics in your videos.

Clean Maroon Interface feels like a modern app UI in dark mode. The maroon tones (#2a050b, #5e1830, #9a3553) are strong but controlled, while the cool neutrals (#e5e5ea, #fdfdfd) keep layouts minimal and bright.

Use this palette for explainers, SaaS walkthroughs, and any video where you show interfaces or dashboards. In Filmora, design simple card shapes and buttons with maroon accents and place them over the light neutrals to keep your on screen text and diagrams easy to follow.

Brick Accent Titles

• HEX Codes: #2b0806, #743022, #a94432, #f2c078, #faf3e5
• Mood: confident, warm, and approachable
• Use for: Great for bold title cards, educational content, and channel intros that need strong but friendly color.

Brick Accent Titles uses brick reds and golden beige for a warm, confident look. The darker base (#2b0806) grounds your design, while #743022 and #a94432 draw attention to headings, badges, or icons. The golden tones (#f2c078, #faf3e5) soften everything so it still feels friendly.

This palette works well for educational channels, how to content, and personality driven videos. Build title cards with brick red blocks and place your main text on the soft beige so viewers get a strong first impression without feeling overwhelmed.

Muted Garnet Branding

• HEX Codes: #2e0a10, #5b1d2b, #8a3042, #d4b6aa, #faf5f0
• Mood: refined, subtle, and branded
• Use for: Ideal for creators building a calm but distinctive brand look across intros, lower thirds, and end screens.

Muted Garnet Branding softens dark red into gentle garnet tones that feel refined and timeless. The reds (#2e0a10, #5b1d2b, #8a3042) are deep enough to feel premium but not shouty, while the soft taupes and creams (#d4b6aa, #faf5f0) give everything a calm, editorial finish.

If you want a subtle but recognizable brand identity, this palette is a great starting point. Use garnet for small accents like icons, lines, and key words, and rely on the soft neutrals for backgrounds, info panels, and credits so your videos feel cohesive from intro to end screen.

Vintage Rustic Dark Red Color Palettes

Old Cinema Velvet

• HEX Codes: #210409, #5b1424, #9a2940, #d9b07c, #f8f1df
• Mood: vintage, luxurious, and nostalgic
• Use for: Great for retro edits, classic film tributes, and title sequences inspired by old theaters.

Old Cinema Velvet is all about classic theater nostalgia. The reds (#210409, #5b1424, #9a2940) feel like plush curtains and upholstered seats, while the aged gold and cream (#d9b07c, #f8f1df) echo old posters, tickets, and film reels.

Use this palette for retro film tributes, silent movie style title cards, or cinema themed channel branding. In Filmora, combine it with grain, vignette, and subtle sepia filters to make your footage look like it belongs to a different era.

Rustic Cabernet Label

• HEX Codes: #240307, #641122, #99293b, #c87a4a, #f3e6cf
• Mood: earthy, artisanal, and rustic
• Use for: Use in product shots, cafe aesthetics, and lifestyle vlogs with a handcrafted, rustic mood.

Rustic Cabernet Label combines cabernet reds with warm wood and parchment tones. The rich reds (#240307, #641122, #99293b) feel bold but organic, while #c87a4a and #f3e6cf suggest wooden tables, kraft labels, and latte art.

This palette is ideal for small business content, coffee shop vlogs, food channels, or any brand with a handcrafted angle. Frame product shots against the neutrals, use red for labels and price tags, and bring the palette into your thumbnails and channel art for a consistent rustic identity.

Faded Poster Crimson

• HEX Codes: #2c050a, #7a1e33, #b2444c, #e9c4a6, #fdf7ec
• Mood: retro, soft, and slightly distressed
• Use for: Perfect for retro title cards, music videos, and edits that mimic old printed posters or zines.

Faded Poster Crimson gives crimson reds a sun bleached twist. The darker hues (#2c050a, #7a1e33, #b2444c) still feel strong, but the accompanying neutrals (#e9c4a6, #fdf7ec) look like aged paper and print that has gently faded over time.

Use this palette to create retro inspired music videos, zine style animations, or poster like thumbnails. Add subtle texture overlays in Filmora, like paper grain or halftone dots, and use the lighter tones behind text to keep your throwback designs readable on any screen.

Tips for Creating Dark Red Color Palettes

Dark red is powerful, so balancing it with the right neutrals and accents is key. Here are practical ways to build and use dark red color combinations that work well in video, thumbnails, and graphic elements.

• Pair dark red with light neutrals (cream, off white, light gray) to keep text and UI elements readable on small screens.
• Use the deepest red or near black shade for backgrounds and overlays, and reserve the brightest red for accents and calls to action.
• Add one warm highlight color (gold, beige, or peach) to stop dark red palettes from feeling too heavy or flat.
• Check your thumbnails in small size and on mobile; if titles blend into the red background, lighten either the text or the base color.
• Keep brand consistency by reusing the same 3 to 5 HEX codes across intros, lower thirds, and end screens instead of picking new reds every time.
• When grading footage in Filmora, push reds subtly: overdoing saturation can make skin tones look unnatural and cheapen the aesthetic.
• For cinematic looks, deepen shadows and slightly desaturate reds, then use a single brighter accent shade only where you want viewers to look.
• Save successful color setups as Filmora presets or custom templates so you can apply your dark red aesthetic in just a few clicks.

Dark red color palettes can shape how your audience feels about your content and your brand within seconds. From moody cinematic looks to warm romantic edits and clean modern graphics, the right combination of dark reds, neutrals, and highlights can turn basic footage into a strong visual identity.

Use these 15 palettes and HEX codes as starting points, then refine them inside Filmora to match your channel, niche, and storytelling style. Whether you are building thumbnails, titles, or a full cinematic grade, locking in a consistent dark red look will make your videos feel more intentional and memorable.

Open a new project in Filmora, drop in one of these palettes as your guide, and experiment with overlays, titles, filters, and LUTs until your dark red aesthetic feels exactly right.

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