Color palette generator
Generate complementary, triadic, analogous, or tetradic palettes from a seed color
Color Palette Generator
Generate harmonious color palettes from a base color
TL;DR
What is Color palette generator?
A color palette generator derives a harmonious set of colors from a single seed color using color theory relationships defined on the HSL color wheel. Common harmony types include complementary (opposite hues), analogous (adjacent hues), triadic (three evenly spaced hues), and tetradic (four evenly spaced hues).
Common use cases
- ‣UI design: generate a theme palette from a brand color to use for accents, borders, and highlights
- ‣Design systems: create a cohesive set of swatches that work together visually
- ‣Data visualization: pick a set of distinct but harmonious colors for chart series
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between complementary and analogous palettes?
Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g. blue and orange). They create high contrast and visual tension. Analogous colors are adjacent on the wheel (e.g. blue, blue-green, green). They create a cohesive, low-contrast feel. Complementary is better for emphasis; analogous is better for backgrounds and subtle UI.
How do I generate accessible color combinations?
Color harmony alone does not guarantee accessibility. Check that text-on-background combinations meet WCAG contrast ratio requirements: 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text. Use the color converter to get the hex values, then test them in a contrast checker.