🎨 Color Picker
Pick colors and get HEX, RGB, HSL codes with palette generation
Color Picker
Quick Colors
Color Codes
Features
Color Picker
Interactive color picker with visual feedback
Multiple Formats
Get HEX, RGB, and HSL color codes instantly
Palette Generation
Generate shades, tints, and complementary colors
Copy to Clipboard
One-click copy for all color formats
Quick Colors
Predefined color swatches for inspiration
Real-time Preview
Live color preview with instant updates
Understanding Color Theory
Color theory is the science and art of using color. It explains how humans perceive color, how colors mix, match, or clash, and the visual messages colors communicate. Understanding color theory is essential for creating effective designs, whether for digital interfaces, print materials, or artistic compositions.
Primary Colors
Color Properties
- •Hue: The color itself (red, blue, green)
- •Saturation: Intensity or purity of the color
- •Lightness: How light or dark the color appears
- •Temperature: Warm vs cool color perception
- •Opacity: Transparency level (alpha channel)
Color Models & Systems
🖥️ RGB (Digital)
Red, Green, Blue - Additive color model for screens and digital displays
Range: 0-255 for each channel
Total Colors: 16.7 million
Best For: Web design, digital art
🎨 HSL (Design)
Hue, Saturation, Lightness - Intuitive model for color manipulation
Hue: 0-360° (color wheel)
Saturation: 0-100% (intensity)
Lightness: 0-100% (brightness)
🖨️ CMYK (Print)
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key(Black) - Subtractive model for printing
Range: 0-100% for each color
Process: Ink absorption
Best For: Professional printing
🔢 HEX Codes
Hexadecimal representation of RGB values, widely used in web development:
#FF0000 = Red (255,0,0)#00FF00 = Green (0,255,0)#0000FF = Blue (0,0,255)Color Harmony & Combinations
Popular Color Schemes
🎯 Monochromatic
Different shades, tints, and tones of a single color
🔄 Complementary
Colors opposite each other on the color wheel
📐 Triadic
Three colors evenly spaced on the color wheel
🌈 Analogous
Colors next to each other on the color wheel
Color Psychology
Red
Energy, passion, urgency, attention
Blue
Trust, stability, calm, professional
Green
Nature, growth, health, money
Yellow
Happiness, optimism, creativity
Purple
Luxury, creativity, mystery
Orange
Enthusiasm, creativity, determination
Color Accessibility & Contrast
WCAG Guidelines
AA Standard (Minimum)
- • Normal text: 4.5:1 contrast ratio
- • Large text: 3:1 contrast ratio
- • Required for most websites
AAA Standard (Enhanced)
- • Normal text: 7:1 contrast ratio
- • Large text: 4.5:1 contrast ratio
- • Recommended for critical applications
Color Blindness Considerations
Types of Color Blindness
Protanopia (1% of men): Difficulty with red
Deuteranopia (1% of men): Difficulty with green
Tritanopia (0.001%): Difficulty with blue
Total (0.005%): No color perception
Design Tips
- • Don't rely on color alone for information
- • Use patterns, shapes, or icons
- • Test with color blindness simulators
- • Provide alternative text descriptions
Practical Color Applications
🌐 Web Design
Brand Colors: Use your brand's primary and secondary colors consistently across all pages
Call-to-Action: Use contrasting colors for buttons to make them stand out
Navigation: Ensure active states and hover effects are clearly visible
Background: Choose colors that don't strain users' eyes during long reading sessions
🎨 Graphic Design
Hierarchy: Use color to guide the eye through your design elements
Mood: Choose colors that match the emotional tone of your content
Printing: Consider how colors will look in CMYK when designing for print
Trends: Stay current with color trends while maintaining timeless appeal
📱 UI/UX Design
System Colors: Use platform-specific color guidelines (Material Design, Human Interface)
Status Indicators: Red for errors, green for success, yellow for warnings
Dark Mode: Design color schemes that work in both light and dark themes
Consistency: Maintain color meaning across all app screens and interactions
🏢 Branding
Primary Color: Choose one dominant color that represents your brand
Color Palette: Develop 3-5 supporting colors for various applications
Industry Context: Consider color associations within your industry
Global Considerations: Research color meanings in different cultures
Color Workflows & Best Practices
🎯 Design Process
- 1. Research: Study your audience and industry
- 2. Inspiration: Gather color palette references
- 3. Primary Color: Choose your main brand color
- 4. Supporting Colors: Build complementary palette
- 5. Test: Check accessibility and readability
- 6. Document: Create a style guide
✅ Quality Checklist
- • ✓ Passes WCAG AA contrast requirements
- • ✓ Readable for color-blind users
- • ✓ Works in both light and dark modes
- • ✓ Consistent across all platforms
- • ✓ Aligns with brand personality
- • ✓ Tested on actual devices
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- • Using too many colors in one design
- • Ignoring color contrast requirements
- • Copying trending colors without context
- • Not testing on different screens
- • Forgetting about color-blind users
- • Using color as the only information indicator
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between RGB and CMYK?
RGB is additive (light-based) for digital screens, mixing red, green, and blue light. CMYK is subtractive (ink-based) for printing, using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks. RGB has a wider color gamut than CMYK.
How do I choose colors for my brand?
Consider your brand personality, target audience, industry context, and cultural meanings. Start with one primary color that represents your core values, then build a palette of 3-5 supporting colors using color harmony principles.
What makes a good color contrast ratio?
For accessibility, aim for at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (WCAG AA). For enhanced accessibility (AAA), use 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text. Higher contrast improves readability for everyone.
Should I use trendy colors in my design?
Trendy colors can make your design feel current, but use them sparingly as accents rather than primary brand colors. Focus on timeless colors for your main palette and incorporate trends through secondary elements that can be easily updated.
How many colors should I use in a design?
Generally, limit yourself to 3-5 colors plus neutrals (black, white, grays). This includes one primary color, 1-2 secondary colors, and 1-2 accent colors. Too many colors can create visual chaos and dilute your message.
Do colors look the same on all screens?
No, colors can vary significantly between devices due to different screen technologies, calibration, and viewing conditions. Always test your colors on multiple devices and consider how they'll look in different environments.