← Back to Blog
Color Palette Extraction: A Developer's Guide to Website Colors
color-paletteweb-designui-uxaccessibilitydesign-tools
Color Palette Extraction: A Developer's Guide
💡
Try our free Color Palette Extractor to extract colors from any website screenshot!
Why Color Palettes Matter
A well-chosen color palette can:
- 🎨 Create visual harmony and brand recognition
- 👁️ Guide user attention and improve UX
- ♿ Ensure accessibility for all users
- 🔄 Maintain consistency across your website
Interactive Color Extractor
Try extracting colors from your screenshot:
Color Theory for Developers
Color Relationships
/* Complementary Colors */
--primary: #3498db; /* Blue */
--complement: #db7734; /* Orange */
/* Analogous Colors */
--primary: #3498db; /* Blue */
--analog1: #34db98; /* Blue-green */
--analog2: #3441db; /* Blue-purple */
/* Triadic Colors */
--primary: #3498db; /* Blue */
--triad1: #db3434; /* Red */
--triad2: #98db34; /* Green */
// Complementary Colors
const primaryColor = '#3498db'; // Blue
const complementColor = '#db7734'; // Orange
// Analogous Colors
const primaryColor = '#3498db'; // Blue
const analog1Color = '#34db98'; // Blue-green
const analog2Color = '#3441db'; // Blue-purple
// Triadic Colors
const primaryColor = '#3498db'; // Blue
const triad1Color = '#db3434'; // Red
const triad2Color = '#98db34'; // Green
Accessibility Best Practices
WCAG Color Contrast
⚠️
Ensure text colors meet WCAG 2.1 contrast requirements: - Normal text: 4.5:1 minimum contrast ratio - Large text: 3:1 minimum contrast ratio
Example of accessible color combinations:
/*
/* ✅ Good contrast (7.0:1 ratio) */
.readable {
color: #1a1a1a;
background: #ffffff;
}
/_ ❌ Poor contrast (2.5:1 ratio) _/
.not-readable {
color: #a3a3a3;
background: #ffffff;
}
\*/`
CSS Variables for Color Management
Setting Up a Color System
/* Primary Colors */
--primary-50: #e3f2fd;
--primary-100: #bbdefb;
--primary-500: #2196f3;
--primary-900: #0d47a1;
/_ Semantic Colors _/
--success: #4caf50;
--warning: #ff9800;
--error: #f44336;
--info: #2196f3;
/_ Neutral Colors _/
--gray-50: #fafafa;
--gray-100: #f5f5f5;
--gray-500: #9e9e9e;
--gray-900: #212121;
Common Color Scenarios
Dark Mode Support
/* Light mode (default) */
:root {
--bg-primary: #ffffff;
--text-primary: #1a1a1a;
}
/_ Dark mode _/
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
:root {
--bg-primary: #1a1a1a;
--text-primary: #ffffff;
}
}
Brand Color Variations
.brand-color {
/* Main brand color */
--brand: #2196f3;
/* Tints (lighter) */
--brand-tint-1: color-mix(in srgb, var(--brand) 90%, white);
--brand-tint-2: color-mix(in srgb, var(--brand) 70%, white);
/* Shades (darker) */
--brand-shade-1: color-mix(in srgb, var(--brand) 90%, black);
--brand-shade-2: color-mix(in srgb, var(--brand) 70%, black);
}
Tools and Resources
FAQ
Q: How many colors should I use in my palette?
A: Follow the 60-30-10 rule: 60% dominant color, 30% secondary color, and 10% accent color.
Q: Should I use HEX, RGB, or HSL?
A: Each has its use:
- HEX: Most common, good for copy-pasting
- RGB: Useful for opacity/alpha values
- HSL: Intuitive for adjusting hue/saturation
Q: How can I ensure consistent colors across browsers?
A: Use CSS custom properties and modern color functions like color-mix().