How to Use Color Picker

This guide will walk you through all the features of our Color Picker tool and how to get the most out of them.

1. Using the Color Picker

Basic Color Selection

  1. Click on the color picker area to select a color
  2. Use the hue slider to change the base color
  3. Adjust saturation by moving horizontally
  4. Adjust brightness by moving vertically
  5. The selected color will update in real-time

2. Picking Colors from Images

Image Color Extraction

  1. Click the "Pick from Image" tab
  2. Upload an image by clicking the upload area or dragging an image
  3. Click anywhere on the image to pick a color from that spot
  4. The color will be automatically selected and shown in all formats

Note: Images are processed locally in your browser and are never uploaded to our servers.

3. Understanding Color Formats

HEX

Hexadecimal format (#RRGGBB). Most commonly used in web development and CSS.

#2596BE

RGB

Red, Green, Blue values (0-255). Used in CSS and most design software.

rgb(37, 150, 190)

HSL

Hue, Saturation, Lightness. Intuitive for adjusting colors programmatically.

hsl(196, 67%, 45%)

CMYK

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black). Used for print design.

cmyk(81%, 21%, 0%, 25%)

4. Exploring Color Variations

The Color Variations section shows different versions of your selected color:

  • Shades: Darker versions created by adding black
  • Tints: Lighter versions created by adding white
  • Tones: Muted versions created by adding gray

Click on any variation to select it as your new color, or click the copy button to copy its value.

5. Copying Color Values

Every color value has a copy button next to it:

  1. Click the copy icon next to any color format
  2. The value is instantly copied to your clipboard
  3. Paste it directly into your code, design tool, or anywhere else

6. Using Dark Mode

Toggle dark mode using the sun/moon icon in the top right corner. Your preference is saved automatically for future visits.

Tips for Best Results

  • Use high-quality images for more accurate color extraction
  • Consider your display's color calibration when picking colors for print
  • Use HSL format when you need to create programmatic color variations
  • Use CMYK values as a reference for print, but verify with your printer