Color Palette Generator

Generate harmonious color palettes using color theory — complementary, triadic, analogous, and more

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Click any color swatch to copy its hex code
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Why Use a Color Palette Generator?

Choosing colors that work well together requires knowledge of color theory — complementary, analogous, triadic, and split-complementary relationships. Doing this manually with a color wheel is slow. Our generator uses HSL mathematics to automatically calculate harmonious color palettes from any base color, letting designers and developers produce professional color schemes in seconds.

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6 Harmony Modes

Complementary, triadic, analogous, split-complementary, tetradic, and monochromatic shades

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Live Swatch Preview

Click any color swatch to instantly copy the hex code to your clipboard

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CSS Variable Export

Export the entire palette as CSS custom properties ready to paste into your stylesheet

Generate a Color Palette in 3 Steps

1

Pick a Base Color

Use the color picker or type a hex code to set your starting/brand color

2

Choose Harmony Type

Select complementary, triadic, analogous, or another harmony that fits your design

3

Copy & Use

Click any swatch to copy its hex, or use 'Copy as CSS Variables' to export the full palette

Color Palette Use Cases

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Web Design

Build a complete website color system from your brand's primary color

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Brand Identity

Develop a professional brand color palette with primary, secondary, and accent colors

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UI/UX Design

Create accessible, visually consistent button, text, and background colors for apps

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Data Visualization

Generate distinct categorical colors for charts, graphs, and data dashboards

Color Design Best Practices

✓ Check Color Contrast (WCAG)

Ensure text/background color pairs meet WCAG AA contrast ratio (4.5:1 for normal text) for accessibility.

✓ Limit Your Palette

Stick to 3–5 colors: 1 primary, 1 secondary, 1-2 accents, and neutrals. More colors create visual chaos.

✓ Consider Color Psychology

Blue = trust/professional, Green = growth/success, Red = urgency/energy, Yellow = optimism. Match your palette to your brand message.

✓ Test in Dark Mode

Generate a dark mode variant of your palette by shifting lightness values. Pure black (#000) and white (#fff) backgrounds rarely look good — use near-blacks and near-whites.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is a complementary color scheme?
Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g., blue and orange, red and green). They create high contrast and visual energy — great for call-to-action buttons and highlights.
When should I use an analogous color scheme?
Analogous schemes use 3 colors adjacent on the color wheel. They create harmonious, soothing designs with low contrast — perfect for backgrounds, gradients, and soft UI designs.
What is HSL vs RGB vs Hex?
All three represent the same color in different formats. Hex (#6366f1) is used in CSS. RGB (99, 102, 241) specifies red/green/blue channels. HSL (237°, 84%, 67%) uses hue, saturation, lightness — much more intuitive for generating harmonious palettes.
How do I make a dark mode color palette?
For dark mode, reduce the lightness of your colors significantly (e.g., L:60% → L:30%) and swap your text/background roles. Keep hue and saturation similar but adjust lightness so colors remain readable on dark backgrounds.