Professional color picker with support for HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK formats. Generate color schemes, save palettes, and explore color harmony.
Hexadecimal color notation using 6 digits (RGB) or 8 digits (RGBA).
Example: #FF5733, #FF573380
Red, Green, Blue values from 0-255.
Example: rgb(255, 87, 51)
Hue (0-360°), Saturation (0-100%), Lightness (0-100%).
Example: hsl(9, 100%, 60%)
Color is one of the most powerful tools in design and digital interfaces. Understanding color theory helps create harmonious, accessible, and emotionally effective designs that enhance user experience.
| Format | Use Case | Range |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | Web development, CSS | 00-FF per channel |
| RGB | Digital displays, CSS | 0-255 per channel |
| HSL | Intuitive color picking | H: 0-360°, S/L: 0-100% |
| CMYK | Print design | 0-100% per channel |
Colors opposite on the color wheel. Creates high contrast and vibrant designs.
Three colors evenly spaced on the color wheel. Balanced and harmonious.
Colors next to each other on the wheel. Creates serene, comfortable designs.
Different shades, tints, and tones of a single hue. Sophisticated and cohesive.
Creates urgency, increases heart rate, stimulates appetite. Associated with passion, danger, and power.
Calming effect, builds trust, associated with professionalism and reliability.
Represents nature, growth, and prosperity. Easiest color for eyes to process.
Grabs attention, stimulates mental activity, associated with happiness and creativity.
Professional color distribution for balanced designs:
:root {
--primary: #3B82F6;
--primary-light: color-mix(in srgb, var(--primary) 80%, white);
--primary-dark: color-mix(in srgb, var(--primary) 80%, black);
}
.button {
background: var(--primary);
color: color-contrast(var(--primary) vs white, black);
}/* Wide gamut colors */
.vibrant {
color: oklch(70% 0.25 180);
background: color(display-p3 1 0 0);
}// Semantic naming
colors: {
primary: {
50: '#eff6ff',
100: '#dbeafe',
500: '#3b82f6', // Base
900: '#1e3a8a'
},
semantic: {
success: '#10b981',
warning: '#f59e0b',
error: '#ef4444',
info: '#3b82f6'
}
}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
:root {
--bg-primary: #0f172a;
--text-primary: #f8fafc;
--accent: #60a5fa;
}
}Adaptive brightness: Adjust colors based on ambient light
High contrast mode: Support system accessibility preferences
Color gamut: Progressive enhancement for wide-gamut displays
Print styles: Optimize colors for printing (usually high contrast)
Design tokens: JSON/YAML files for cross-platform consistency
Build tools: Automated color optimization and validation
Linting: Enforce color accessibility and consistency rules
Documentation: Auto-generated color palette documentation
Modern gradients with subtle transitions, mesh gradients, and noise textures.
Two-color treatment creating striking, cohesive visual effects.
Bold, saturated colors in minimal compositions for maximum impact.
Display-P3, Rec. 2020 color spaces enabling more vibrant colors than sRGB.
OKLCH and LAB color spaces that better match human color perception.
Machine learning models generating harmonious color palettes and schemes.
A: For most web projects, use HEX for solid colors (easier to remember and share) and RGB/RGBA for transparency. HSL is excellent for programmatic color manipulation and creating variations. CMYK is only for print design.
A: Check contrast ratios using tools like WebAIM's contrast checker. Aim for 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Don't rely solely on color to convey information - use icons, text, or patterns as alternatives.
A: RGB is additive color for screens (light-based), while CMYK is subtractive for print (ink-based). RGB has a wider color gamut than CMYK, so some bright screen colors can't be printed exactly. Always convert to CMYK for print projects.
A: Follow the 60-30-10 rule: 60% dominant neutral color, 30% secondary supporting color, and 10% accent color. This creates balance while allowing for visual hierarchy. You can expand with tints and shades of your main colors.
A: Start with your brand's primary color, then use color harmony rules (complementary, triadic, etc.) to find supporting colors. Create variations (tints, shades, tones) for different use cases. Test for accessibility and cultural appropriateness.
A: Use darker backgrounds (not pure black) with lighter text. Reduce color saturation by 10-20% to prevent oversaturation. Increase contrast ratios and test thoroughly. Consider using warmer tones to reduce eye strain in low-light conditions.
A: Colors influence emotions and actions. Red creates urgency (good for CTAs), blue builds trust (popular for corporate sites), green suggests growth and safety. However, context and culture matter more than universal color meanings. Always A/B test important color decisions.
A: Yes, but use them thoughtfully. Modern gradients are subtle and purposeful, not decorative. They work well for backgrounds, buttons, and creating depth. Ensure sufficient contrast for text overlays and test across different devices and screens.