What Color Is Chartreuse?

This yellow-green hue gives a feeling of growth in design

By
Jacci Howard Bear
Jacci Howard Bear
Writer
A graphic designer, writer, and artist who writes about and teaches print and web design.
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Updated on December 9, 2019

The color chartreuse is halfway between yellow and green. Some shades of chartreuse have been described as apple green, lime green, light grass green, light green with a tinge of yellow and mellow yellow.

Chartreuse is a mix of warm and cool colors. The greener shades of chartreuse have a fresh, springtime feel, and can be a bit '60s retro. The more yellow chartreuse is a perky color but its warmth is toned down by the bits of green. 

Chartreuse is reassuring and refreshing. Like most greens, it is restful, and as a bright light green, chartreuse represents new life and growth.

Chartreuse color swatches with hex numbers
Lifewire / Ashley Nicole DeLeon 

History of Chartreuse 

Chartreuse is the name and color of a liqueur that has made by Carthusian monks since the 1600s. The name comes from the Chartreuse Mountains where the Grande Chartreuse monastery is located, in Grenoble, France.

There are two different varieties of Chartreuse liqueur: yellow and green. Both are made from herbs and plants which are steeped in alcohol.

Using Chartreuse in Design Files

When you plan a design project that will go to a commercial printing company, use CMYK formulations for chartreuse in your page layout software or select a Pantone spot color. For display on a computer monitor, use RGB values. Use Hex designations when working with HTML, CSS, and SVG. Chartreuse shades are best achieved with the following:

  • Chartreuse Green: Hex #7fff00 | RGB 127,255,0 | CMYK 45,0,100,0
  • Chartreuse Yellow: Hex #dfff00 | RGB 223, 255, 0 | CMYK 13,0,100,0
  • Pear: Hex #d1e231 | RGB 209, 226, 49 | CMYK 8,0,78,11
  • Green-Yellow: Hex #adff2f | RGB 173,255,47 | CMYK 32,0,82,0
  • Yellow-Green: Hex #9acd32 | RGB 154,205,50 | CMYK 25,0,76,20

Choosing Pantone Colors Closest to Chartreuse

When working with printed pieces, sometimes a solid color chartreuse, rather than a CMYK mix, is a more economical choice. The Pantone Matching System is the most widely recognized spot color system. Here are the Pantone colors suggested as best matches to chartreuse color.

  • Chartreuse Green: Pantone Solid Coated 2285 C
  • Chartreuse Yellow: Pantone Solid Coated 2297 C
  • Pear: Pantone Solid Coated 2297 C
  • Green-Yellow: Pantone Solid Coated 2290 C
  • Yellow-Green: Pantone Solid Coated 2292 C 

Because the eye can see more colors on a display than can be mixed with CMYK inks, some shades do not reproduce exactly in print. 

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