What is a Color Palette?
A color palette is a carefully curated collection of colors that work harmoniously together. Designers use color palettes to create visual consistency across websites, applications, branding materials, and artwork. A well-chosen palette evokes specific emotions, guides user attention, and establishes brand identity. Whether you're designing a minimalist interface or a vibrant illustration, the right color combination makes all the difference.
Understanding Color Harmony
Color harmony refers to the pleasing arrangement of colors based on their relationships on the color wheel. Our generator supports multiple harmony modes, each creating a distinct visual effect:
Analogous
Colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel. Creates a serene, comfortable design with low contrast. Perfect for nature-inspired themes.
Complementary
Colors opposite each other on the wheel. Produces high contrast and vibrant combinations. Ideal for making elements stand out.
Split Complementary
A base color plus two colors adjacent to its complement. Offers strong visual contrast while being more nuanced than pure complementary.
Triadic
Three colors evenly spaced around the wheel. Creates vibrant, balanced palettes with rich contrast. Great for playful, energetic designs.
Tetradic
Four colors forming a rectangle on the wheel. Offers the most variety but requires careful balance. Best for complex, multi-element designs.
Monochromatic
Variations of a single hue using different tints, shades, and tones. Creates elegant, cohesive designs with subtle depth.
Generator Features
Our color palette generator is packed with features to streamline your design workflow:
- Lock Colors:Keep your favorite colors while regenerating the rest. Click the lock icon on any swatch.
- Keyboard Shortcuts:Press spacebar to instantly generate new palettes without clicking.
- Custom Picker:Fine-tune any color using the native color picker for precise control.
- Flexible Count:Generate anywhere from 2 to 10 colors to match your project needs.
- Multiple Export Formats:Export as CSS variables, SCSS, Tailwind config, JSON, or plain arrays.
- Color Details:View HEX, RGB, and HSL values for each color on hover.
Tips for Creating Great Palettes
Start with a base color that represents your brand or project mood. Use the 60-30-10 rule: 60% dominant color, 30% secondary, and 10% accent. Consider accessibility by ensuring sufficient contrast between text and background colors. Test your palette in both light and dark contexts to ensure versatility.