Color Palette Generator

Color palette generation uses color theory principles and mathematical transformations between color spaces. The tool converts your input color from hexadecimal (RGB) to HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) format, which makes it easier to generate harmonious variations. HSL separates color components: hue (the actual color), saturation (intensity), and lightness (brightness).



Different palette types use specific HSL manipulation strategies. Monochromatic palettes vary only lightness, keeping hue and saturation constant. Analogous colors shift hue by ±30-60 degrees on the color wheel while maintaining saturation and lightness. Complementary colors use opposite hues (180° apart). Triadic palettes space three colors evenly at 120° intervals around the wheel.



After calculating colors in HSL space, the tool converts back to RGB and then to hexadecimal format for web use. All calculations happen instantly in your browser using JavaScript color space conversion algorithms. Click any color swatch to copy its hex code to clipboard for use in design software, CSS, or anywhere hex colors are needed.

1. Website & UI Design
Designers need cohesive color schemes for websites, apps, and digital interfaces. Choose a brand color as the base, then generate complementary, analogous, or triadic palettes for buttons, backgrounds, text, and accents. Harmonious palettes create professional, visually pleasing interfaces. Export hex codes directly to CSS or design tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.



2. Brand Identity Development
Creating brand guidelines requires selecting primary, secondary, and accent colors that work together. Generate a palette from your primary brand color to establish a complete color system. Monochromatic palettes create elegant, unified branding. Triadic or complementary schemes add energy and contrast for dynamic brands.



3. Graphic Design & Marketing Materials
Posters, social media graphics, presentations, and marketing collateral need balanced color schemes. Use analogous palettes for calm, professional designs or complementary colors for high-contrast, attention-grabbing materials. The generator ensures colors harmonize rather than clash, improving visual appeal without requiring deep color theory knowledge.



4. Interior Design & Home Decor
Choosing paint colors, furniture, and decor items benefits from harmonious color schemes. Start with a favorite wall color or furniture piece, generate a palette, then use those colors for accents, textiles, and accessories. Monochromatic schemes create serene spaces; analogous colors feel natural and flowing; complementary adds vibrant contrast.



5. Art & Illustration Projects
Digital artists and illustrators use color palettes to establish mood and cohesion in artwork. Generate palettes for character design, environment art, or illustration projects. Limiting artwork to a predefined palette creates visual unity. Triadic palettes work well for dynamic illustrations; monochromatic or analogous suits subtle, atmospheric pieces.

• Understand color psychology: Colors evoke emotions. Blue: trust, calm, professionalism. Red: energy, urgency, passion. Green: growth, health, nature. Yellow: optimism, attention, caution. Choose base colors aligned with your project's emotional goals, then generate palettes that maintain that psychological impact.



• Test accessibility with contrast checkers: Beautiful colors mean nothing if users can't read text. After generating palettes, use contrast checking tools (WebAIM, Stark) to ensure text-background combinations meet WCAG AA standards (4.5:1 ratio minimum). This is critical for inclusive, accessible design.



• Limit palette size for cohesion: Using too many colors creates visual chaos. Stick to 3-5 main colors: 1-2 primary, 1-2 secondary, 1 accent. The 60-30-10 rule: 60% dominant color, 30% secondary, 10% accent. Generate palettes but use restraint—more colors ≠ better design.



• Consider cultural color meanings: Color symbolism varies globally. White: purity in Western cultures, mourning in some Asian cultures. Red: luck in China, danger in Western contexts. If designing for international audiences, research cultural color associations to avoid unintended meanings.



• Use monochromatic for elegance: Single-hue palettes with varying lightness create sophisticated, minimalist designs. Perfect for luxury brands, portfolios, or projects requiring subtle professionalism. Add one contrasting accent color (from complementary palette) for visual interest without complexity.



• Save successful palettes: When you generate a palette you love, copy all hex codes to a document or save as a screenshot. Building a personal library of proven color combinations saves time on future projects and helps develop your color intuition over time.



• Adjust saturation for context: Highly saturated colors demand attention—use for CTAs, alerts, or focal points. Desaturated (muted) colors feel professional and easy on eyes—better for backgrounds, body text areas. Generate palettes, then manually adjust saturation in design tools based on element importance.