Color Palette Generator

What is a Color Palette Generator? Complete Guide

A color palette generator is an essential design tool that creates harmonious color schemes based on color theory principles. Our 2026 color palette generator goes beyond basic tools with multiple color harmonies (complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, monochromatic, split-complementary), accessibility checker with WCAG compliance, advanced color adjustments, multiple export formats, and palette variations. Perfect for web designers, graphic designers, UI/UX designers, brand developers, and digital artists who need professional color combinations. No design theory expertise required - let color science guide your creative decisions.

How to Use Our Color Palette Generator

Select a base color using the color picker or enter a hex code directly
Choose a color harmony rule: complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, monochromatic, or split-complementary
View the generated color palette with harmonious color combinations
Adjust individual colors using sliders for hue, saturation, and lightness customization
Check color contrast ratios to ensure accessibility (WCAG AA/AAA compliance)
Lock specific colors to keep them while regenerating others
Click on any color to copy its hex code, RGB, or HSL values to clipboard
Export the palette as CSS variables, Sass/SCSS, JSON, or Adobe Swatch (.ase) format
Generate random palettes for inspiration using the "Randomize" button
Save your favorite palettes to your browser for future reference

Key Features & Benefits

Multiple Color Harmonies

Generate complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, monochromatic, and split-complementary palettes based on proven color theory principles.

Accessibility Checker

Real-time WCAG contrast ratio checking ensures text readability and accessibility compliance. See which color combinations meet AA and AAA standards.

Advanced Color Adjustments

Fine-tune each color with hue, saturation, and lightness sliders. Create perfect shades, tints, and tones to match your exact vision.

Multiple Export Formats

Export palettes as CSS custom properties, Sass/SCSS variables, JSON, Adobe Swatch Exchange (.ase), or plain color codes for seamless workflow integration.

Color Code Formats

View and copy colors in HEX, RGB, HSL, or CMYK formats. Choose the format that works best for your design workflow or medium.

Palette Variations

Generate tints (lighter), shades (darker), and tones (muted) of your palette. Create comprehensive color systems for complex design projects.

Common Use Cases

Website Design

Create cohesive color schemes for websites and web applications. Ensure brand consistency across headers, buttons, backgrounds, and text with harmonious palettes.

Brand Identity Development

Develop professional brand color palettes for logos, marketing materials, and corporate identities. Establish primary, secondary, and accent colors that work together.

UI/UX Design

Design user interfaces with accessible, visually pleasing color combinations. Ensure proper contrast ratios for buttons, forms, navigation, and interactive elements.

Graphic Design Projects

Generate color schemes for posters, flyers, infographics, social media graphics, and print materials. Maintain visual harmony across design elements.

Digital Art & Illustration

Find inspiring color combinations for digital paintings, illustrations, and artwork. Explore color harmonies to create mood, depth, and visual interest.

Presentation Design

Create professional color schemes for PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides presentations. Ensure readability and visual impact for slides and charts.

Why Choose Our Color Palette Generator

✓Based on proven color theory principles for professional, harmonious results
✓Multiple harmony rules: complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, monochromatic
✓Built-in accessibility checker with WCAG contrast ratio compliance
✓Fine-grained control with hue, saturation, and lightness adjustments
✓Export to CSS, Sass, JSON, Adobe Swatch for seamless workflow integration
✓Color format flexibility: HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK - use what works for you
✓Generate palette variations: tints, shades, tones for comprehensive color systems
✓Random palette generation for creative inspiration and exploration
✓100% free with unlimited palette generation and no registration
✓Privacy-first - all palettes generated locally in your browser, never uploaded

Color Palette Generator Comparison - How We Compare to Competitors

Feature	10xTools Color Palette Generator	Adobe Color	Coolors	Paletton	Color Hunt	Canva Colors
Price (Free Forever)	✅ 100% Free	❌ Account Required	❌ Freemium	✅ Free	✅ Free	❌ Account Required
6 Color Harmonies	✅ 6 Harmonies	✅ Multiple	✅ Multiple	✅ Multiple	❌ Pre-made Only	✅ Multiple
WCAG Accessibility	✅ WCAG Check	✅ Included	❌ Not Available	❌ Not Available	❌ Not Available	✅ Included
Export Formats	✅ 4+ Formats	✅ ASE Format	✅ Multiple	✅ Export	✅ HEX Only	✅ Canva Only
Color Adjustments	✅ HSL+Hue	✅ Advanced	✅ Basic	✅ Advanced	❌ Not Available	✅ Basic
No Registration	✅ No Signup	❌ Account Required	❌ Pro Required	✅ No Signup	✅ No Signup	❌ Account Required
Privacy (Client-Side)	✅ 100% Private	❌ Cloud Storage	❌ Server Upload	✅ Client-Side	✅ Client-Side	❌ Cloud Storage
No Ads	✅ No Ads	✅ No Ads	❌ Has Ads	❌ Has Ads	✅ No Ads	❌ Has Ads
Palette Locking	✅ Supported	✅ Supported	✅ Supported	❌ Not Available	❌ Not Available	❌ Not Available
Unlimited Usage	✅ Unlimited	❌ Limited	❌ Limited	✅ Unlimited	✅ Unlimited	❌ Limited

✅ = Feature Available | ❌ = Not Available or Limited

Frequently Asked Questions

What is color harmony?

Color harmony is the theory of combining colors in aesthetically pleasing ways based on their relationships on the color wheel. Complementary colors are opposite (high contrast), analogous colors are adjacent (harmonious), triadic uses three evenly spaced colors (vibrant balance), and monochromatic uses variations of one hue (unified). These relationships create visually balanced, professional designs.

How do I choose the right color harmony?

Complementary (opposite colors) creates bold, high-contrast designs. Analogous (adjacent colors) creates calm, harmonious designs. Triadic (three evenly spaced) creates vibrant, balanced designs. Monochromatic (one color variations) creates sophisticated, unified designs. Choose based on your project mood: energetic (complementary/triadic) vs. calm (analogous/monochromatic).

What are WCAG contrast ratios?

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) defines contrast ratios for text readability. AA level requires 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text. AAA (enhanced) requires 7:1 for normal text, 4.5:1 for large text. Our tool calculates these ratios automatically to ensure your color combinations are accessible to users with visual impairments.

Can I use generated palettes commercially?

Yes! All color palettes generated with our tool are free to use for both personal and commercial projects without attribution. Colors cannot be copyrighted, so you own the palettes you create. Use them for client work, products, brands, or any commercial application.

What is the difference between tints, shades, and tones?

Tints are created by adding white to a color (lighter, pastel versions). Shades are created by adding black (darker, richer versions). Tones are created by adding gray (muted, sophisticated versions). Using tints, shades, and tones of your palette colors creates depth and visual hierarchy in designs.

How do I export palettes to design software?

For Adobe software (Photoshop, Illustrator), export as .ase (Adobe Swatch Exchange). For Figma/Sketch, copy HEX codes or export as JSON and import manually. For web development, export as CSS custom properties or Sass variables and paste into your stylesheets. For print design, use CMYK values.

What if I want to change one color but keep others?

Use the "Lock" feature to preserve specific colors while regenerating or randomizing others. This is perfect when you have a brand color that must be included but need complementary colors around it. Lock your primary color and generate harmonies based on it.

How can I find inspiration for color palettes?

Use the "Randomize" feature to explore unexpected color combinations. Study color palettes from nature, art, photography, or successful brands. Consider the emotional response you want: warm colors (red, orange, yellow) feel energetic, cool colors (blue, green, purple) feel calm. Start with your brand or project personality and build from there.

Generated Palette

Preview

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Palette Types Explained

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