Learn Color Theory
Master color with interactive guides.
Complementary
Two hues opposite on the wheel (180° apart) for maximum contrast. Bold and energetic, but can be jarring if overused.
Harmony Modes Reference
Free
Your palette was validated without a fixed harmony model. The checker flagged any awkwardly-spaced hue pairs (50–120° apart) that may create visual tension.
Smart
Smart mode selects from curated palette archetypes — ensuring lightness hierarchy, saturation emphasis on accents, and a warm accent for energy. Each generation picks a different archetype for variety.
Monochromatic
One hue varied by saturation and lightness — tints, tones, and shades for a unified, subtle palette.
Complementary
Two hues opposite on the wheel (180° apart) for maximum contrast. Bold and energetic, but can be jarring if overused.
Analogous
Neighboring hues within ±30° for a smooth, harmonious feel. Found frequently in nature and very pleasing to the eye.
Triadic
Three hues evenly spaced at 120° for vibrant, balanced variety. Offers strong visual contrast while retaining harmony.
Square Tetrad
Four hues in two complementary pairs (90° spacing) — rich but harder to balance. Works best when one color dominates.
Rectangular Tetrad
Four hues forming two complementary pairs with unequal spacing — a rectangle on the color wheel. Offers rich variety with two distinct warm/cool axes.
Split Complementary
A base hue plus two flanking its complement (±30° from opposite) — contrast with less tension than pure complementary.
Compound
An analogous pair plus their complements — complex but cohesive. Offers the most variety while maintaining structure.
Shades
One hue and saturation at different lightness levels — from dark to light. Perfect for creating depth in monochrome designs.