Color Palette Generators
Choose a starting color and generate a harmonious palette using any of the classic color theory relationships. Each generator shows your palette with hex and RGB codes, a color wheel diagram, and a full explanation of the underlying theory.
Analogous
Colors adjacent on the wheel — natural, harmonious, and easy on the eye.
3–5 colors · ±30°
Complementary
Two colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel — maximum contrast.
2 colors · 180°
Monochromatic
Tints, shades, and tones of a single hue — clean, cohesive, and professional.
5 colors · same hue
Neon
Fully-saturated, high-brightness colors spread across the wheel — electric and eye-catching.
4–6 colors · S=100%
Pastel
Soft, airy colors spread across the wheel — gentle lightness and reduced saturation for calm designs.
4–6 colors · high L
Split-Complementary
A base color plus the two colors flanking its complement — high contrast with less tension.
3 colors · 150° / 210°
Tetradic / Square
Four colors equally spaced — rich and complex, works best when one color dominates.
4 colors · 90°
Triadic
Three colors evenly spaced around the wheel — vibrant and balanced.
3 colors · 120°
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How Color Harmony Works
Color harmony is based on the relationships between hues as arranged on the color wheel. Because hue is represented as an angle (0–360°), palette relationships are expressed as angular offsets from a base color. The six schemes above cover the most widely used harmonic relationships in design, web, print, and fine art.
Choosing the Right Palette Type
- Complementary — Best for high-contrast UIs, call-to-action buttons, or illustrations where maximum visual punch is needed.
- Analogous — Ideal for natural, calm designs: landscapes, wellness brands, editorial layouts.
- Triadic — Works well for playful, colorful brands and infographics where all three colors need equal weight.
- Split-complementary — A safer alternative to complementary — still high-contrast but softer and more versatile.
- Tetradic — Best for complex designs with many distinct elements needing separate color coding.
- Monochromatic — Perfect for minimal, sophisticated designs, dark modes, and backgrounds.
- Neon — Ideal for gaming, cyberpunk, nightlife, and any dark-mode design that needs maximum visual energy.
- Pastel — Perfect for wellness brands, children's products, spring themes, and soft UI backgrounds where approachability is key.