> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ideogram.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ideogram.ai/prompting/vocabulary/memory-colors-for-naming-color-nuances.md).

# Memory Colors for Naming Color Nuances

Everyday color names, such as cherry red or sky blue, grouped by base color, to get the shade you want from a prompt.

Color words such as **cherry red** or **sky blue** describe a more specific direction than red or blue alone. These familiar references are often called *memory colors*. Put them in a sentence that says which object or region should use the color, such as `a matte forest-green bottle on an ivory background`.

For structured palette instructions, use [JSON prompting](/prompting/json-prompting.md) on Ideogram 4.5 or 4.0, or a Custom [Color palette](/create/image-settings.md#color-palette) on 3.0. Color names and palettes guide the result; neither guarantees an exact color on every pixel. Inspect exported brand assets when a precise match matters.

The list below groups memory-based color terms by base color. Each one can help you fine-tune your prompt and get closer to the exact hue you’re aiming for.

**🔴 Red**\
Apple, cherry, cranberry, blood, scarlet, ruby, wine, burgundy, brick, rose, garnet, fire engine, tomato, coral, blush, pomegranate, strawberry, chili, paprika, beet, firelight, jam, sangria, red velvet, ember

**🟠 Orange**\
Pumpkin, tangerine, apricot, rust, amber, carrot, marmalade, clay, copper, burnt orange, squash, paprika, cantaloupe, butternut, saffron, cheddar, flame, tiger, persimmon, ginger, ochre

**🟡 Yellow**\
Lemon, canary, gold, butter, mustard, sunflower, honey, daffodil, marigold, corn, banana, champagne, straw, yolk, dandelion, custard, pineapple, flax, amber glow, maize, goldenrod

**🟢 Green**\
Emerald, olive, sage, forest, moss, mint, jade, chartreuse, pistachio, lime, seafoam, fern, avocado, shamrock, basil, eucalyptus, pear, pickle, ivy, clover, pine, cactus, wasabi, celery

**🔵 Blue**\
Sky, baby blue, robin’s egg, navy, royal, sapphire, denim, indigo, ice blue, slate, teal, powder blue, steel blue, periwinkle, cobalt, storm, glacier, cornflower, ink, horizon, arctic, bluebell, lake, dusk

**🟣 Purple**\
Lavender, plum, violet, eggplant, orchid, grape, amethyst, wine, mauve, lilac, iris, mulberry, blackberry, heather, wisteria, fig, thistle, aubergine, twilight, royal purple, raisin, elderberry

**⚪ White / Off-White**\
Pearl, cream, ivory, alabaster, porcelain, eggshell, chalk, snow, linen, milk, moonlight, lace, frosting, meringue, cloud, rice paper, marble, parchment, vanilla, whipped cream, winter white

**⚫ Black / Gray**\
Charcoal, graphite, slate, ash, onyx, coal, soot, obsidian, lead, pewter, smoke, shadow, ink, iron, flint, steel, raven, gunmetal, stormcloud, tar, night, cinder

**🟤 Brown / Tan**\
Chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, chestnut, caramel, toffee, walnut, sand, taupe, ochre, clay, hazelnut, sepia, sienna, almond, pecan, mocha, maple, cocoa, bronze, dirt, suede, umber

**🩷 Pink**\
Rose, blush, salmon, bubblegum, flamingo, cotton candy, coral, peach, watermelon, raspberry, fuchsia, magenta, strawberry milk, hibiscus, tulip, rose quartz, guava, cherry blossom, lipstick

**🩵 Cyan / Aqua**\
Aqua, turquoise, glacier, lagoon, ocean, seafoam, pool, iceberg, teal, cyan, electric blue, mint, Caribbean, celeste, marine, arctic water, jellyfish glow, frostbite, cerulean, surf, wave

**🌈 Multicolored / Iridescent**\
Oil slick, holographic, rainbow, opal, abalone, prism, pearlized, shimmer, aurora, peacock feather, soap bubble, CD surface, crystal sheen, beetle shell, starlight, dragonfly wing

#### Descriptive modifiers for color

To further refine the color you're describing, you can combine memory-based color terms with descriptive modifiers. These help define the **intensity**, **temperature**, **finish**, or **lighting** of the color — allowing for more control and expressiveness in your prompts.

Here are common categories and examples of useful modifiers:

* **Intensity or Brightness**\
  Pale, light, soft, faint, pastel, bright, deep, vivid, bold, dark, muted, rich, intense
* **Warmth and Temperature**\
  Warm, cool, neutral, icy, frosted, fiery, dusky, earthy
* **Finish or Surface Quality**\
  Glossy, matte, metallic, shimmering, iridescent, pearlescent, velvet-like, translucent, silky, powdery
* **Light and Shadow Modifiers**\
  Sunlit, shadowed, backlit, faded, dimmed, glowing, reflective, foggy, moonlit

**Examples**\
You can combine these with memory-based color terms for added clarity and control:

> * *Powdery sky blue*
> * *Rich cherry red*
> * *Frosted mint green*
> * *Dusky rose pink*
> * *Shimmering sapphire blue*
> * *Matte ivory white*