Color Picker

About Color Picker

Color is one of the most important elements in design, and working with colors effectively requires the right tools. This color picker lets you select any color using the native browser picker or by entering a value directly, then instantly see the color in all major CSS formats: HEX, RGB, HSL, and HSV. Beyond simple conversion, it generates shades, tints, and color harmonies to help you build cohesive palettes.

HEX codes like #6366F1 are the most common color format on the web. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) specifies colors as three channel values from 0 to 255. HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) and HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) are more intuitive for designers because they separate the color tone from its brightness and saturation, making it easier to create consistent variations.

Shades, Tints, and Tones

A shade is created by adding black to a base color, making it darker. A tint is created by adding white, making it lighter. These variations are essential for creating depth, hover states, and accessible color contrasts in UI design. The swatches above show 10 steps from darkest shade to lightest tint, and you can click any swatch to use it as the new base color.

Color Harmonies

Color harmony refers to combinations of colors that look pleasing together. Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel and create strong contrast. Analogous colors are adjacent on the wheel and create smooth, natural palettes. Triadic colors are evenly spaced 120 degrees apart for balanced variety. Split complementary uses one base color and two colors adjacent to its complement. These harmonies are the foundation of professional color theory in design.

FAQ

Q: What's the difference between HSL and HSV?
A: Both use Hue (0-360 degrees on the color wheel) and Saturation, but they differ in the third component. HSL uses Lightness (0% is black, 50% is pure color, 100% is white). HSV uses Value (0% is black, 100% is the full color). HSL is used in CSS, while HSV is common in graphic design tools like Photoshop and Figma.

Q: How do I find accessible color combinations?
A: For text readability, WCAG 2.1 requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Use shades (darker variations) for text on light backgrounds and tints (lighter variations) for text on dark backgrounds. The darker shades and lighter tints in the variations grid above can help you find high-contrast pairings.

Q: Can I pick colors from images or my screen?
A: The native color picker allows you to pick any color visible on your screen in supported browsers (Chrome, Edge). Click the color input and then use the eyedropper to select any pixel from any window on your screen.

Q: Is my data safe?
A: Yes. This tool runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server.