Memory Colors for Naming Color Nuances
When describing colors in a prompt, using specific, visually grounded references is much more effective than generic terms like “red” or “green.” Since Ideogram doesn’t understand numerical color codes (like RGB or hex) in prompts yet, using familiar, real-world references — often called memory colors — helps convey a more accurate color nuance. These references evoke a mental image based on shared visual experience, such as “cherry red” or “sky blue.”
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, flamingo, cherry blossom, lipstick, flamingo feather
🩵 Cyan / Aqua Aqua, turquoise, glacier, lagoon, ocean, seafoam, pool, iceberg, teal, cyan, electric blue, mint, carribean, 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