Color Palette Generator (5 schemes from one base)
Pick a base color, choose a color-theory scheme, and get a coordinated palette. Click swatches to copy individual hex values, or copy all at once for use in design tools and CSS variables.
Generated palette
- #3BDFF6
- #3B82F6
- #513BF6
How it works
The five color theory schemes
Complementary: two colors at opposite ends of the color wheel (180° apart). High contrast, vibrant. Used for accents, call-to-action buttons, and creating focal points.
Analogous: three colors adjacent on the wheel (30° apart). Harmonious and pleasing, low contrast. Common in nature; great for backgrounds and UI surfaces.
Triadic: three colors equally spaced (120° apart). Vibrant and balanced. Used in playful or energetic designs.
Tetradic (rectangle): four colors forming a rectangle (90° apart). Rich palette but harder to balance — typically use one as dominant and others as accents.
Monochromatic: tones, tints, and shades of a single hue. Sophisticated and unified. Common in minimalist designs and corporate branding.
Picking a starting color
Brand colors: most projects start from an existing logo or brand color. Test it as the base across all 5 schemes to find the best fit for your design.
Inspiration: pick a color from photography, art, or nature. Vivid colors (high saturation, mid lightness) work best as the base; very pale or very dark colors produce washed-out palettes.
Accessibility: ensure your final palette has enough contrast for text. Use our contrast checker to verify foreground/background pairings meet WCAG AA (4.5:1 for normal text).
Using the palette
CSS variables: define the palette colors as :root variables (--color-primary, --color-accent, etc.) so you can swap themes by changing one location.
Design tools: paste hex values into Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD's color libraries. Most tools accept hex directly; some accept HSL or named CSS colors as well.
Limit usage: even with 5 colors, real designs typically use 2-3 prominently and the rest sparingly. The 60-30-10 rule (60% dominant, 30% secondary, 10% accent) is a useful starting balance.
Frequently asked questions
›Which scheme should I use?
Analogous is the safest choice for most designs — three nearby colors create harmony without monotony. Complementary works well for emphasis (CTA buttons). Monochromatic is best for minimal/sophisticated brands. Triadic for playful/energetic feel.
›Can I get more than 5 colors?
Not from this tool — we generate the canonical 2-5 color schemes. For larger palettes, use the analogous output and create monochromatic shades of each (combine schemes).
›Does the algorithm use perceptually uniform color space?
We use HSL math, which is fast and predictable. For perceptually uniform results (better for accessibility-tuned palettes), advanced tools use OKLCH or CIELAB. HSL is sufficient for most design work.
›Will my palette be accessible?
Not automatically. Color theory schemes guarantee aesthetic harmony, not contrast for text. Always check text-on-background combinations with our contrast checker before shipping.
›Can I save my favorite palettes?
Not yet — copy the hex codes to your design system or notes. Bookmarkable palette URLs are on the roadmap.
›What about Material Design or Tailwind palettes?
Those are pre-curated systems. Generate a base scheme here, then look up similar Material/Tailwind colors. Some apps export hex codes directly compatible with these systems.
›Why does my palette look 'flat'?
If your base color is very pale (high lightness) or very dark (low lightness), the generated palette has limited dynamic range. Pick a base with mid lightness (40-60%) and high saturation (70%+) for vivid results.
›Does the data leave my browser?
No. All calculations run locally; nothing is sent to a server.
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