Color Palette Generator
Harmonies & Themes
Generate complementary, analogous, triadic, and split-complementary color palettes from one HEX. Copy swatches or CSS variables—free, no signup, browser-only.
This conversion runs only in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
- Base color#3b82f6
- Complementary#f6af3b
Opaque colors only (HEX / RGB / HSL). No alpha channel — paste #rgb shorthand or full #rrggbb.
Base color
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
What is this tool?
This color palette generator takes one seed HEX (#rgb or #rrggbb) and builds classic hue-wheel harmonies: complementary, analogous, triadic, and split-complementary. Conversion uses HSL—rotate hue, keep saturation and lightness—then returns HEX swatches plus a copyable CSS variables block.
It is for exploration and handoff drafts, not accessibility certification and not a substitute for brand guidelines. Always check text contrast and semantic roles before shipping.
Common use cases
- Sketch a first accent set from a product primary HEX for mockups
- Export
--color-*CSS custom properties for a prototype stylesheet - Compare complementary vs split-complementary options before design review
How to use
- Pick a seed with the color input or type
#rgb/#rrggbbHEX. - Review labeled groups: Base, Complementary, Analogous, Triadic, Split-complementary.
- Tap a swatch (or Copy HEX) for one color, or copy the CSS variables block.
- Validate contrast and brand fit outside this tool before production use.
Examples
| Input / setting | Output | Notes |
|---|---|---|
#3b82f6 | complementary #f6af3b; analogous #3bdff6, #523bf6 | Default blue seed (Sample). |
#ff0000 | complementary #00ffff; triadic #00ff00, #0000ff | Pure red → cyan complement; classic RGB triad. |
#808080 | all harmonies #808080 | Zero saturation — hue rotation has no visible effect (edge). |
Practical pitfalls
- Generated harmonies are not a brand style guide: names, usage rules, and approved pairs still need human review.
- HSL hue steps are not perceptually uniform (unlike OKLCH); two “equal” rotations can look uneven in lightness.
- Neutral seeds (black / white / gray) collapse every group to the same HEX because saturation is ~0.
References
Last reviewed: 2026-07-27
Frequently asked questions
- Which harmony types are generated?
- Complementary (hue +180°), analogous (±30°), triadic (±120°), and split-complementary (±150°) from the seed’s HSL hue, keeping saturation and lightness fixed.
- Can I export CSS variables?
- Yes. Copy the generated `:root` custom properties block, or tap any swatch to copy its HEX.
- Does this replace a brand style guide?
- No. Hue-wheel harmonies are exploration starters. Brand systems still need named roles, contrast checks, dark/light variants, and stakeholder review.
- Why do gray seeds produce identical swatches?
- With saturation near zero, rotating hue does not change the color. Pure black, white, and neutral grays collapse every harmony to the same HEX.