Anchor 323 Apricot Light
Anchor 323 Apricot Light is a light, vivid orange with the screen hex #f9884f. DMC has no exact twin: its nearest is DMC 721 Orange Spice Medium at ΔE 4.0 (close), while Madeira offers Madeira 2301 Golden Brown Very Light at ΔE 4.7 (close).
Updated
Anchor stranded cotton
Anchor 323 Apricot Light
#f9884f · RGB 249, 136, 79
Closest to Anchor 323 in other brands
- DMC 721 Orange Spice Medium ΔE 4.0 close
- Madeira 2301 Golden Brown Very Light ΔE 4.7 close
- Perler Orange ΔE 5.3 close
- Hama 79 Apricot ΔE 4.3 close
- Artkal S ST3 Transparent Tangering ΔE 3.3 close
- Nabbi N26 Peach ΔE 8.0 similar
Anchor 323 color values
| Code | 323 |
|---|---|
| Name | Apricot Light |
| Hex (screen) | #f9884f |
| RGB | 249, 136, 79 |
| CIELAB (D65) | L* 68.3, a* 38.5, b* 48.9 |
| HSL | 20°, 93 %, 64 % |
| Color family | Orange, 9 of 30 lightest first |
| Lightness | light (L* 68.3) |
| Nearest DMC | DMC 721 Orange Spice Medium, ΔE 4.0 |
Anchor 323 equivalents in other brands
None of these 14 picks is a perfect twin of Anchor 323: the best is DMC 721 at ΔE 4.0.
| Brand | Color | Name | ΔE2000 | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMC | 721 | Orange Spice Medium | 4.0 | close |
| DMC | 947 | Burnt Orange | 4.7 | close |
| DMC | 722 | Orange Spice Light | 5.2 | close |
| Madeira | 2301 | Golden Brown Very Light | 4.7 | close |
| Madeira | 307 | Copper Ultra Very Light | 5.6 | close |
| Madeira | 114 | Yellow Dark | 5.8 | close |
| Perler | Orange | code 80-19004 | 5.3 | close |
| Perler | Brick | code 80-15273 | 6.8 | similar |
| Hama | 79 | Apricot | 4.3 | close |
| Hama | 40 | Fluorescent Orange | 8.2 | similar |
| Artkal S | ST3 | Transparent Tangering | 3.3 | close |
| Artkal S | SP2 | Pearlescent Tangerine | 4.6 | close |
| Nabbi | N26 | Peach | 8.0 | similar |
| Nabbi | N13 | Orange | 8.9 | similar |
Anchor shades closest to Anchor 323
No other Anchor color comes within ΔE 3 of Anchor 323; the nearest, Anchor 324 Apricot Medium, sits at ΔE 6.4.
| Color | Name | Hex | ΔE2000 | Lighter or darker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 324 | Apricot Medium | #ed6e32 | 6.4 | darker and more saturated |
| 316 | Tangerine Dark | #fa7017 | 6.5 | a little darker and more saturated |
| 1047 | Cinnamon Light | #f39f64 | 6.9 | a little lighter and more muted |
| 336 | Terra Cotta Light | #ef9e79 | 7.1 | a little lighter and more muted |
| 329 | Melon Dark | #f86e45 | 7.3 | darker and more saturated |
| 337 | Terra Cotta Medium Light | #e28b6e | 7.6 | a little darker and more muted |
| 304 | Citrus Dark | #f77b0d | 7.6 | a little darker and more saturated |
| 1003 | Amberglow | #dd6c36 | 8.4 | darker |
Shading Anchor 323: lighter and darker orange steps
4 lighter steps and 4 darker steps from the Anchor orange family, L* from 73 to 58.
| Step | Color | Name | L* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lighter | 1047 | Cinnamon Light | 72.7 |
| 3 lighter | 336 | Terra Cotta Light | 72.4 |
| 2 lighter | 362 | Nutmeg Medium Light | 71.4 |
| 1 lighter | 303 | Citrus Medium | 70.8 |
| this color | 323 | Apricot Light | 68.3 |
| 1 darker | 304 | Citrus Dark | 64.9 |
| 2 darker | 316 | Tangerine Dark | 63.3 |
| 3 darker | 324 | Apricot Medium | 61.1 |
| 4 darker | 1003 | Amberglow | 58.4 |
Blends that stitch up close to Anchor 323
One strand each of Anchor 328 and Anchor 314 models at ΔE 1.1, closer than any single Anchor shade (best single: Anchor 324, ΔE 6.4).
| Recipe (2 strands) | Blend hex | ΔE to Anchor 323 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × Anchor 328 Melon Light + 1 × Anchor 314 Tangerine Medium Light | #f98c56 | 1.1 |
| 1 × Anchor 1047 Cinnamon Light + 1 × Anchor 329 Melon Dark | #f68956 | 1.3 |
| 1 × Anchor 1047 Cinnamon Light + 1 × Anchor 330 Melon Dark | #f5834b | 1.3 |
Outline and backstitch colors for Anchor 323
Ranked by WCAG contrast ratio against #f9884f; 3:1 or more keeps a backstitch line readable.
| Role | Color | Name | Contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonal outline (orange) | 1049 | Cinnamon | 2.2:1 |
| Strongest contrast | 403 | Black | 8.7:1 |
| Softer gray or brown line | 401 | Gray Dark | 4.6:1 |
How to use Anchor 323
Substituting Anchor 323 takes care: DMC 721 is a little darker and slightly more saturated (ΔE 4.0), and Madeira 2301 is a little darker and slightly more muted (ΔE 4.7). Stitch a small test on your fabric before you commit a whole area.
Anchor 323 is number 9 of 30 in the Anchor orange family, counted from the lightest. For shading, step up to Anchor 303 Citrus Medium and down to Anchor 304 Citrus Dark. No other Anchor shade sits within ΔE 3, so it is hard to confuse with the rest of the card.
Anchor 323 glows on black or navy Aida (contrast 8.7:1 against black) but turns subtle on white fabric (2.4:1).
For a fuse-bead version of the same design, the nearest beads are Perler Orange (ΔE 5.3), Hama 79 Apricot (ΔE 4.3) and Artkal S ST3 Transparent Tangering (ΔE 3.3); beads come in fewer shades than Anchor, so expect a close match at best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 323?
DMC 721 Orange Spice Medium is the closest DMC match to Anchor 323 Apricot Light (ΔE 4.0, close). Runners-up: DMC 947 (ΔE 4.7) and DMC 722 (ΔE 5.2).
What color is Anchor 323?
Anchor 323 Apricot Light is a light, vivid orange in the orange family: hex #f9884f, RGB 249, 136, 79, L* 68.3. These are screen values for a dyed thread, so check a real skein in daylight.
What can I use instead of Anchor 323?
Inside Anchor, Anchor 324 Apricot Medium is nearest (ΔE 6.4). From other brands, DMC 721 (ΔE 4.0) or Madeira 2301 (ΔE 4.7). A 1+1 blend of Anchor 328 and Anchor 314 models at ΔE 1.1.
What is Anchor 323 in Perler beads?
Perler Orange (#eb7b31) is the nearest Perler bead at ΔE 5.3 (close). In Hama the nearest is Hama 79 Apricot (ΔE 4.3).
What is the Madeira equivalent of Anchor 323?
Madeira 2301 Golden Brown Very Light at ΔE 4.7 (close), then Madeira 307 at ΔE 5.6.
Related
Nearest Anchor colors
- Anchor 329 Melon Dark ΔE 7.3
Anchor 323 in other brands
- Perler Orange ΔE 5.3
- Hama 79 Apricot ΔE 4.3
- Artkal S ST3 Transparent Tangering ΔE 3.3
- Nabbi N26 Peach ΔE 8.0