Color Palette Generator
Generate beautiful color palettes from any color
Free online color palette generator. Create harmonious color schemes with tints and shades from any base color. Perfect for designers, developers, and artists. Export as CSS variables. Works entirely in your browser.
Enter a hex color code (e.g., #3B82F6) or use the color picker
How to generate a color palette?
Creating a professional color palette used to take hours of manual work, but now it's just a few clicks:
- Start with any color you like - enter a hex code (like #3B82F6), use the color picker to visually select one, or click 'Random' for inspiration. Don't have a color in mind? The random button is great for discovering new color combinations.
- Watch as the tool instantly generates a complete palette with tints (lighter versions) and shades (darker versions) of your base color. You'll get a range from very dark to very light, all harmoniously related to your starting color.
- Click any color swatch to instantly copy its hex code to your clipboard. Perfect for when you need that exact shade quickly.
- Need the whole palette for a project? Click 'Export as CSS Variables' to download a ready-to-use CSS file with all your colors defined as CSS custom properties. Just drop it into your project and start using your palette immediately.
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Why do you need a color palette generator?
Let's be real - picking colors that work well together is harder than it looks. You might have a great base color, but then you're stuck trying to figure out what shades work for hover states, borders, backgrounds, and text. A color palette generator solves this by automatically creating a harmonious range of colors from your base color. It uses color theory principles to generate tints (made by adding white) and shades (made by adding black) that naturally work together. This means you get a professional-looking color scheme without spending hours tweaking values manually. Whether you're designing a website, creating a brand identity, or building an app, having a consistent color palette makes everything look more polished and intentional.
When color palettes make your life easier
- Website design: Need colors for buttons, links, backgrounds, and text? Generate a palette and you've got a complete color system that looks cohesive and professional.
- Brand identity: Starting a new brand or refreshing an existing one? A well-generated palette ensures all your colors work together harmoniously across different applications.
- UI/UX design: Modern interfaces need multiple shades of the same color for different states (hover, active, disabled). A palette gives you all these variations instantly.
- CSS development: Export your palette as CSS variables and you've got a complete color system ready to use. No more guessing hex codes or manually creating variations.
- Design inspiration: Not sure what colors to use? Click random a few times and discover color combinations you might never have thought of.
- Client presentations: Show clients a complete color system instead of just one color. It helps them visualize how the colors will work together in the final design.
- Accessibility: Having multiple shades makes it easier to ensure proper contrast ratios for text readability and accessibility compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What exactly is a color palette?
A color palette is a curated collection of colors designed to work well together. In our generator, you get tints (lighter versions made by adding white) and shades (darker versions made by adding black) of your base color. This creates a harmonious range from very dark to very light, all related to your starting color. Think of it like having a complete color family - instead of just one blue, you get a whole range of blues that work perfectly together.
How do I use the colors from the generated palette?
It's super easy! Just click on any color swatch and its hex code is automatically copied to your clipboard. Then paste it wherever you need it - CSS files, design tools, or anywhere else. If you need the whole palette at once, use the 'Export as CSS Variables' button to download a CSS file with all colors ready to use. You can import this into your project and reference colors like 'var(--color-1)' throughout your stylesheet.
Can I generate random color palettes for inspiration?
Absolutely! Click the 'Random' button and the tool generates a palette from a completely random color. This is great when you're stuck or looking for inspiration. Keep clicking until you find a color you love, then use that as your base. Sometimes the best color schemes come from unexpected combinations.
How many colors are in each palette?
Each palette contains 9 colors total - 4 darker shades, your base color in the middle, and 4 lighter tints. This gives you a complete range from very dark to very light, which is usually more than enough for most design projects. You can use different shades for different purposes - darker ones for text or borders, lighter ones for backgrounds, and the base color for primary elements.
Will the colors work well together?
Yes! The palette generator uses color theory principles to create tints and shades that are mathematically related to your base color. Since they all come from the same source color, they naturally harmonize with each other. This is much better than randomly picking colors, which often clash or look unprofessional.
Can I use this for commercial projects?
Of course! There are no restrictions on how you use the generated palettes. Use them for personal projects, client work, commercial websites, or anything else. The tool is completely free and the colors you generate are yours to use however you want.