Peach is a color that occupies the space between pink, orange, and beige on the color wheel. While it is most commonly described as a pale orange or light pinkish-orange, the exact definition of peach is subjective and its classification as pink, orange, or neither is debated. This article will examine the origins of the peach color, how it is defined, similarities and differences to the color pink, and present arguments for and against classifying peach as a type of pink.
The Origins of Peach as a Color Name
The first recorded use of “peach” as a color name in English was in 1588. It was derived from the name of the peach fruit, which had come to English from the French “pêche” in the 14th century. The soft, fuzzy exterior of peaches led to the name being used for pale pinkish-orange colors that evoked the hue of peach flesh and skin.
In various world cultures, peach has been linked to concepts like immortality, love, friendship, longevity, and feminine beauty. These positive associations resulted in the peach color becoming trendy for women’s fashion in the 17th-19th centuries. Queen Victoria choosing peach as the color for her coronation gown in 1838 further cemented it as a fashionable ladies’ color.
How Peach is Defined
In color theory, peach is considered a pale tint of orange, an orange pastel or orange shade. The RGB values for generic peach are 255, 229, 180. The Hex code is #FFE5B4. On the RYB color model, peach contains a higher proportion of red and white than orange, which shifts it closer to pink:
| Color | Red | Yellow | Blue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | 30% | 59% | 11% |
| Peach | 48% | 42% | 10% |
The HSL values for peach are Hue 24°, Saturation 93%, Lightness 89%. This places peach midway between pink and orange on the color wheel.
The defining attributes of peach compared to pink are:
– Lower saturation – peach is softer and paler
– Higher lightness – peach is brighter and less deep
– Subtle warmth from stronger orange undertones
Similarities Between Peach and Pink
Despite being classified primarily as an orange, peach does share some notable traits with pink:
– Significant red undertones, higher than orange
– Considered a feminine, romantic color associated with love
– Commonly used in women’s fashion and cosmetics
– Evokes sweetness like colors of candy and desserts
– Has a soft, soothing, calming effect on viewers
Additionally, there are some specific shades of pink that are very close to peach:
– Baby pink – Nearly identical to peach, but slightly cooler
– Salmon pink – Very similar to light peach, but more orange pink
– Pastel peach – By name linking peach and pink; a pale, unsaturated peach
Differences Between Peach and Pink
The main differences that distinguish peach from typical pink are:
| Peach | Pink |
|---|---|
| – Warmer, more yellow undertones | – Cooler, more blue undertones |
| – Higher lightness and lower saturation | – Can be both lighter and darker; higher saturation |
| – Slightly more orange, but not fully | – No orange; strictly red + white |
While still in the pinkish range, peach leans further towards orange and yellow compared to blueish pink. Peach also lacks the depth and intensity that some darker or more saturated pinks exhibit.
Is Peach Considered a Pink?
Whether peach qualifies as a subtype of pink is subjective, but there are reasonable arguments on both sides:
Arguments for peach being a pink:
– Peach has a significant red tone, usually a requirement for being pink
– Peach is considered feminine, romantic, and sweet like stereotypical pink
– Peach invokes similar feelings and concepts as lighter pinks
– Peach is used in very similar contexts as pink
– Some shades like pastel peach are explicitly linked to pink
Arguments against peach being a pink:
– Peach is higher in orange and yellow tones than blueish pinks
– Peach is significantly lighter and desaturated compared to bold pinks
– Peach is defined as a pale tint of orange, not red or pink
– Calling peach “pink” may cause confusion with expected cool-toned pinks
– Peach has very different connotations from neon or hot pinks
Conclusion
The debate over peach’s classification comes down to how narrowly or broadly pink is defined. Traditional pink is cooler, bolder, and more saturated than peach. But in a wider sense, peach shares enough key traits of softer, lighter pinks to have a claim to being considered a very pale, unsaturated variant of pink. Ultimately, peach sits in an intermediate space between pink, orange, and beige – making arguments both for and against its inclusion as a type of pink reasonable. The most neutral perspective is that peach is simply its own distinct color on the spectrum between other colors.