Tips: Space generate · Enter lock/unlock focused swatch · C copy HEX · Arrow keys move focus.
This generator uses a randomised harmonic algorithm: it picks a base hue and creates nearby hues with consistent saturation/lightness in HSL for pleasant, cohesive palettes. Locks keep your favourites while new colours harmonise around them.
A well-chosen colour palette does more than “look nice”—it sets hierarchy, communicates brand personality, and improves accessibility. Designers often start with a base hue for character, then build supporting tones for contrast and emphasis. Common harmony models include analogous (adjacent hues for calm, cohesive interfaces), complementary (opposites for energy and call-to-action buttons), split-complementary (balanced contrast with less risk), and monochrome (one hue, varied saturation/lightness for minimalist UIs).
For web and app design (UK and EU markets alike), work in HEX/RGB and preview on both light and dark surfaces. For print—packaging, stationery, out-of-home—convert to CMYK or specify Pantone where brand consistency is critical. Always request a UK/EU press proof or calibrated PDF/X to account for paper stock and regional press profiles.
Colour alone shouldn’t carry meaning. Pair hues with icons, labels, and patterns, and check text contrast against both white and black. Aim for WCAG 2.1 AA (contrast ratio ≥ 4.5:1 for normal text; ≥ 3:1 for large text) and consider AAA (≥ 7:1) for critical journeys like payments, government services, and healthcare. Accessibility isn’t only ethical—UK public sector sites are legally required to meet these standards, and private sites benefit from improved usability and SEO.
Colours carry cultural signals. In the UK and wider Europe, blue often signals trust (finance, public services), green connotes sustainability (energy, FMCG), and purple implies premium or cultural heritage. If trading internationally, validate palettes with local stakeholders; the same red that suggests energy in London may convey warning elsewhere. Build primary, secondary, and neutral scales with spacing in lightness (L) to ensure predictable tints and shades for charts, maps, and data viz.
--btn-primary) rather than hue, so you can swap palettes without refactoring components.Consider a palette refresh if your brand expands into a new market, launches dark mode, or faces readability issues in audits. Document tokens, export HEX/RGB/CMYK, and provide usage guidance for partners, printers, and accessibility reviewers across the UK/EU.
Pantone 448 C—nicknamed “opaque couché”—was chosen for UK/EU cigarette packs because focus groups found it the least appealing colour. Designers now reference it when they need instant “do not like” energy.
Very few natural pigments are blue; most blue birds and butterflies use microscopic structures to bend light. That’s why digital palettes lean on precise HEX values to replicate “structural colour” vibes.
About 8% of men have some form of red-green colour vision deficiency, and ~1% of women may be tetrachromats (four cone types). Building palettes with multiple cues keeps everyone on the same journey.
Global brands often maintain separate HEX/CMYK recipes per region because printers and legal standards differ (EU food packaging, US OTC medicine, etc.). Your palette might travel more than you do.
Dark-mode palettes can shave measurable milliseconds off OLED power draw on mobile, improving Core Web Vitals scores. Choosing hues isn’t just aesthetic—it can help performance metrics too.