How to extract a color palette from an image
- Drop a photo, painting, logo or screenshot on the box.
- Choose how many colors you want, from 4 to 12. Near-white and near-black are skipped by default so backgrounds and shadows do not dominate; untick that for graphics where they matter.
- Tap a swatch to copy its hex code, copy the whole palette as HEX, CSS variables, JSON or Tailwind, or download a palette card that shows the image with its colors.
How the colors are chosen
The image is scaled down to about 160 pixels, then the median cut algorithm repeatedly splits the set of pixel colors along its widest color channel until there are enough groups. Each group's average becomes a swatch, and very similar swatches are merged so you get distinct colors. Swatches are sorted by how much of the image they cover, shown as a percentage. The result is the same every time for the same image.
Palettes taken from photographs tend to be naturally harmonious, which is why designers use them for moodboards, brand colors, website themes and interior design. A palette card makes a great Pinterest pin or Instagram post. To build a full scale of shades from one of the colors, use the Tailwind shades generator; to check whether two of them work for text, use the contrast checker.
Why is the main color of my photo missing?
If it is very light or very dark, it may have been skipped. Untick "Ignore near-white and near-black" and try more colors.
Is this the same as a color picker?
No. A color picker reads one pixel you choose; this tool summarises the whole image. Use the color picker from image tool for exact pixels.
Is my image uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser.