What is a Color Palette Generator?
A color palette generator creates sets of harmonious colors based on color theory relationships. Starting from a single base color, it computes related colors using mathematical rules derived from the color wheel — such as complementary (180° opposite), analogous (adjacent hues), and triadic (120° intervals). The result is a ready-to-use palette where colors naturally work together.
How to Use the Color Palette Generator
Pick a base color using the color picker or type a HEX code directly. Select a color scheme type from the dropdown — each type generates a different set of related colors. Click Generate to see the palette. Each color card shows the HEX, RGB, and a copy button. Use "Copy All HEX" to grab all colors at once, or "Copy as CSS Variables" to generate ready-to-paste CSS custom properties.
Color Scheme Types Explained
Complementary: 2 colors, 180° apart. Maximum contrast. Great for CTAs. Analogous: 5 colors spanning ±60° of hue. Natural, cohesive, low-tension. Triadic: 3 colors evenly spaced at 120°. Vibrant, balanced. Split-Complementary: 3 colors — base + two colors flanking the complement (±30°). Contrast with less tension than complementary. Tetradic: 4 colors forming a rectangle on the wheel. Rich variety. Monochromatic: 5 lightness steps of one hue. Elegant, minimal, always safe.
Color Theory Behind the Generator
The tool converts your base color to HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness). The Hue value (0–360°) maps to the color wheel. Palette colors are computed by adding fixed hue offsets. For example, complementary = base hue + 180°. Monochromatic = same hue, different lightness values (15%, 35%, 55%, 75%, 90%). Colors are then converted back to HEX using standard HSL-to-RGB formulas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a complementary color palette?
Two colors 180° apart on the color wheel. Maximum contrast — red and cyan, blue and orange. High-energy, used for CTAs and accents.
What is an analogous color palette?
Colors adjacent on the color wheel (±30–60° of hue). Natural, calm, cohesive — like colors in a sunset. Great for backgrounds and minimal UIs.
What is a triadic color palette?
Three colors evenly spaced at 120° intervals — an equilateral triangle on the wheel. Vibrant and balanced. Use one as dominant, the others as accents.
What is a split-complementary palette?
The base color plus the two colors adjacent to its complement (±30°). Similar contrast to complementary but with more flexibility and less visual tension.
What is a monochromatic palette?
One hue at different lightness levels (tints and shades). Always cohesive and professional. Ideal for minimal, single-brand-color designs.
What is a tetradic palette?
Four colors forming a rectangle on the color wheel — two complementary pairs. The richest variety, but requires careful balance. Use one dominant color, others as supporting accents.
How is the palette computed from the base color?
The base HEX is converted to HSL. Hue offsets are added (e.g., +180° for complementary). New HSL values are converted back to HEX. HSL arithmetic is ideal for color wheel relationships because the hue value directly maps to the color wheel angle.
Is my data private?
Yes. All palette computation runs in your browser. No data is sent to any server.