How does the in-browser color extraction algorithm work?

HTML5 Canvas decodes the image bitmap locally. A K-Means clustering algorithm groups proximate color vectors based on Euclidean distance with human eye luminance weighting.

Are my uploaded photos or graphics sent to a remote server?

Never. All image decoding and palette extraction execute 100% inside your local browser. No files are uploaded to any server.

What does the WCAG contrast ratio indicator show?

It measures relative luminance contrast against black and white text. Scores of 4.5:1 or higher meet WCAG AA readability requirements.

How can I export the extracted palette to Tailwind CSS?

Select the Tailwind export tab, copy the configuration snippet, and paste it into the theme.extend.colors property in your tailwind.config.js file.

100% Client-SideHEX • RGB • HSL • CMYK • WCAG Contrast • Tailwind Tokens

Image Color Palette Extractor

Extract dominant, harmonious color palettes from any photo or image instantly in your browser. Get precise HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK codes, verify WCAG AA accessibility contrast, and export directly to CSS or Tailwind.

Instant Sample Palettes:

Drop an image here or click to browse

Supports PNG, JPG, WebP, SVG, AVIF • Processed 100% in your browser

Viewing preset swatch palette

Upload any photo above to extract its colors

Number of Dominant Colors:

Export Palette Snippet

How to Extract and Master UI Color Palettes

Follow this 4-step workflow to extract balanced color schemes from photography and map them directly into production web applications.

Upload Source Imagery

Select an evocative high-resolution photograph, brand asset, or UI mockup that captures your desired visual mood and aesthetic tone.

K-Means Cluster Sampling

HTML5 Canvas iterates through thousands of image pixels, clustering proximate chromatic vectors to find the true dominant shades.

Validate WCAG Contrast

Examine the relative luminance scores against white and black typography to ensure your design tokens fulfill WCAG AA (4.5:1) standards.

Export Design Tokens

Export generated swatches into CSS custom properties, Tailwind CSS configuration objects, or download a shareable swatch PNG card.

Color Harmony Formulas & Psychological Design Matrix

Harmony Type	Color Wheel Formula	Psychological Perception	Best UX / Product Application
Monochromatic	Single hue + varying tints/shades	Calm, cohesive, structured, uncluttered	SaaS dashboards, corporate financial tools, document readers
Analogous	3 adjacent hues (30° apart)	Natural, harmonious, organic, visually soothing	Health, lifestyle, wellness apps, environmental branding
Complementary	Opposite hues (180° apart)	High energy, bold contrast, urgent focal draw	Call-to-Action (CTA) buttons, hero banners, ecommerce checkout
Triadic	3 equidistant hues (120° apart)	Vibrant, balanced, playful, multi-faceted	Gaming UIs, children educational portals, creative studios
Tetradic (Double Split)	2 complementary pairs (rectangle)	Dynamic, rich diversity, maximum color range	Complex data visualizations, analytics charts, multi-category tags

Color Space Format Guide: HEX vs RGB vs HSL vs CMYK

Format	Syntax Example	Dynamic Range	Primary Use Case
HEX (#RRGGBB)	#3B82F6	16.7M colors (sRGB)	HTML/CSS stylesheets, design handoffs, Tailwind configs
RGB / RGBA	rgb(59, 130, 246)	0-255 per channel	Canvas 2D, WebGL shaders, programmatic alpha blending
HSL / HSLA	hsl(217, 91%, 60%)	360° Hue, 0-100% Sat/Light	Human-friendly palette generation, hover/active brightness shifts
CMYK	cmyk(76%, 47%, 0%, 4%)	Subtractive ink gamut	Commercial offset printing, packaging, physical merchandise