What this tool does
The generator builds a 5-color palette from your base color using classic color-wheel harmony rules. Pick the harmony type, and the five swatches update live as you change the base color. Clicking a swatch copies its hex code.
The harmony rules
- Complementary: your hue plus the hue directly opposite on the wheel (180 deg away), in light and dark variants. High contrast, energetic.
- Analogous: hues 30 and 60 degrees on either side of yours. Calm and cohesive, found in nature.
- Triadic: three hues spaced 120 degrees apart. Balanced and vibrant.
- Monochromatic: one hue at five lightness levels. The safest choice, always harmonious.
- Random: five hues with pleasant saturation and lightness, using real randomness from your browser's crypto generator.
Worked example
Base #3B82F6 (blue, hue 217 deg). Complementary gives blues plus its opposite at hue 37 deg (orange): a classic blue-and-orange pairing used in countless logos and movie posters.
Using a palette in design
A common split: one dominant color for backgrounds, one accent for buttons and links, and the rest for text, borders and states. Check text colors against backgrounds with our contrast checker before shipping.
Limitations
Harmony rules are starting points, not guarantees: context, proportions and brightness change how a palette feels. Always preview palettes in the actual design.