The Orange Basketball: What's The Perfect Shade?

what color orange is a basketball

Basketballs are typically orange in colour, with the official colour named #F88158 in HTML or Basket Ball Orange. This colour is a light medium bright shade of red, with high lightness and medium saturation. The specific shade was chosen by league executives in the 1950s, who tested 12 different colours before settling on orange and oatmeal. The decision was made based on the visibility of the ball during play, as the contrast of the orange basketball against the oatmeal-coloured hoop allowed viewers to see the rotation of the shot.

Characteristics Values
Colour Family Red
Lightness High
Saturation Medium
Warmth Warm
Hex Code #F88158
RGB 97% Red, 51% Green, 35% Blue
HSV 15° Hue, 65% Saturation, 97% Value
HSL 15° Hue, 92% Saturation, 66% Lightness
CMYK 0% Cyan, 48% Magenta, 65% Yellow, 3% Black
Luminance 36%
Contrast with Black 8.3:1
Contrast with White 2.5:1
RGB Complementary Colour #57CFF7
Similar Colours Pinkish Orange, Bittersweet, Mango Orange, Salmon, Sunrise Orange

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Basketball orange's hex code is #F88158

Basketball orange is a light, medium bright shade of red with a hex code of #F88158. It is a warm colour with high lightness and medium saturation. In the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) colour space, basketball orange has 97% Red, 51% Green, and 35% Blue. It has 15° Hue, 65% Saturation, and 97% Value in the HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) colour space. In the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) colour space, it has 15° Hue, 92% Saturation, and 66% Lightness. In the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) colour space used for colour printing, basketball orange has 0% Cyan, 48% Magenta, 65% Yellow, and 3% Black.

Basketball orange has a natural luminance of 36%, which is medium-high. This shade has a higher contrast with black than with white. When paired with black, basketball orange has an 8.3:1 contrast ratio, which meets the AAA requirement. However, when paired with white, the 2.5:1 contrast ratio is insufficient for readability.

To mix basketball orange paint using eight primary colours (Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White, and Black), combine 9% Yellow, 54% Red, 3% Black, and 35% White. Using five primary colours (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White, and Black), combine 27% Magenta, 36% Yellow, 3% Black, and 35% White.

Colours similar to basketball orange include Pinkish Orange, Bittersweet, Mango Orange, Salmon, and Sunrise Orange.

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It has 97% Red, 51% Green, and 35% Blue

The RGB (Red, Green, Blue) breakdown of the colour of a basketball is 97% Red, 51% Green, and 35% Blue. This shade of orange has a hex code of #F88158. In the HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) colour space, it has 15° Hue, 65% Saturation, and 97% Value. In the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) colour space, it has 15° Hue, 92% Saturation, and 66% Lightness. In the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) colour space, it has 0% Cyan, 48% Magenta, 65% Yellow, and 3% Black. This colour has a medium-high natural luminance of 36% and has higher contrast with black than with white.

To mix this colour using eight primary colours (Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White, and Black), you would need to combine 9% Yellow, 54% Red, 3% Black, and 35% White. Using five primary colours (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White, and Black), you would need to combine 27% Magenta, 36% Yellow, 3% Black, and 35% White.

Basket Ball Orange is a light medium bright shade of red. It belongs to the colour family Red and has high lightness and medium saturation. It is a warm colour.

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It has high luminance at 36%

The colour officially named "Basketball Orange" has a luminance of 36%, which is considered medium-high. This colour is a light medium bright shade of red, with a warm hue. It has a hex code of #F88158 and an RGB value of 97% red, 51% green, and 35% blue. In the HSL colour space, it has a hue of 15°, 92% saturation, and 66% lightness.

The luminance of Basketball Orange is important because it affects the colour's visibility and contrast. With a luminance of 36%, Basketball Orange has a higher contrast with black than with white. Specifically, Basketball Orange and black have an 8.3:1 contrast ratio, which meets the AAA requirement. On the other hand, Basketball Orange and white have a 2.5:1 contrast ratio, which is insufficient for readability.

The choice of Basketball Orange as the colour for basketballs is not arbitrary. League executives tested 12 different colours before settling on orange and oatmeal, including black-and-orange and light blue. Former NBA creative director Tom O'Grady explained that they "picked the oatmeal and orange one because you could see the rotation of the shot". The high luminance of Basketball Orange, at 36%, likely contributes to its visibility and makes it easier for players and spectators to track the rotation and movement of the ball during play.

It is worth noting that the shade of orange can vary across different basketballs, with some appearing brighter or darker than others. This can be due to factors such as the material used or the wear and tear of the ball over time. Additionally, the lighting conditions and background colours can also affect the perceived colour of the basketball, with some colours providing better contrast and visibility than others.

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It has a higher contrast with black than with white

Basketballs are a light-medium shade of red, with a hex code of #F88158. This particular colour is often referred to as "Basketball Orange". It has a high lightness and medium saturation, with a warm tone.

When considering the contrast of Basketball Orange, it is important to note that it has a higher contrast with black than with white. This means that Basketball Orange and black have a stronger difference in visual perception, making them stand out more from each other. Specifically, Basketball Orange and black have an 8.3:1 contrast ratio, which meets the AAA requirement. This high contrast makes these colours very suitable for text, as they are easily distinguishable from each other.

On the other hand, Basketball Orange and white have a lower contrast ratio of 2.5:1, which is considered insufficient for readability. This means that when Basketball Orange is used as text on a white background, it may be more challenging to read or distinguish the text from the background.

The higher contrast between Basketball Orange and black can be attributed to the colour's specific composition. In the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) colour space, Basketball Orange is made up of 0% cyan, 48% magenta, 65% yellow, and 3% black. The presence of black in the colour composition may contribute to its higher contrast when paired with black elements.

Additionally, when mixing Basketball Orange paint using primary colours, the presence of black is required. For example, when mixing with eight primary colours (Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White, and Black), 3% black is needed. Similarly, when using five primary colours (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White, and Black), 3% black is still necessary. This further highlights the intrinsic connection between Basketball Orange and black, resulting in their higher contrast when used together.

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It's a warm colour with medium saturation

Basketballs are a warm colour with medium saturation. Specifically, the colour "Basketball Orange" has a hex code of #F88158. In the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) colour space, it is made up of 97% red, 51% green, and 35% blue. In the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) colour space, it is made up of 0% cyan, 48% magenta, 65% yellow, and 3% black. Basketball Orange is lighter than some other oranges and has a natural luminance of 36%, which is medium-high.

The exact shade of orange can vary slightly depending on the brand and material of the basketball. For example, some basketballs made from synthetic leather may appear "brighter" or more orange in colour. Additionally, a new basketball may darken slightly as it is used and breaks in.

The colour orange was chosen for basketballs following a rule change in the 1950s. League executives tested 12 different colours before settling on orange and oatmeal, as these colours provided the best visibility of the ball's rotation during a shot.

The specific shade of Basketball Orange is important for maintaining the optimal visibility of the ball, ensuring fair gameplay, and enhancing the overall experience of the game for players and spectators alike.

Frequently asked questions

Basketballs are orange.

The hex code for basketball orange is #F88158.

The RGB value for basketball orange is (248, 129, 88).

League executives tested 12 different colours before settling on orange and oatmeal, including black and orange and light blue. "We picked the oatmeal and orange one because you could see the rotation of the shot," said former NBA creative director Tom O'Grady.

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