Use practical color tools that work together.
ColorDB tools help turn color ideas into usable values, palettes, and design decisions. Whether you are choosing a brand palette, checking text readability, converting a hex code, or building a gradient, these tools are designed to work together.
Each tool focuses on a different part of the color workflow. You can start with a single color, generate related colors, convert values for CSS or design software, test contrast, and refine the result into something usable.
Step-by-step help
Every tool now has a dedicated how-to guide.
If you want a clearer explanation of what each box does, how to finish a real task, and what mistakes to avoid, open the how-to guide from any tool card below.
Which tool should I use?
Start with the job you need to do. The right starting tool depends on whether you need ideas, conversion, readability checks, gradients, or tonal variations.
Start here if...
Color Palette Generator
you need a starting point for a design
The Color Palette Generator helps you quickly create groups of colors that can work together. Use it when you need inspiration for a website, app interface, brand concept, illustration, dashboard, or visual theme.
Start here if...
Color Converter
you have a HEX value and need RGB or HSL
The Color Converter helps translate the same color into different formats. A color may be written as HEX in a design mockup, RGB in a canvas workflow, HSL in a CSS theme, or HSV in a color picker.
Start here if...
Contrast Checker
choosing text and background colors
The Contrast Checker helps test whether a foreground color is readable against a background color. This matters for body text, buttons, labels, links, cards, alerts, navigation, and form controls.
Start here if...
Gradient Generator
designing a hero section
The Gradient Generator helps create smooth color transitions for CSS backgrounds and design accents. Gradients can add depth, motion, energy, or atmosphere to a design, but they need to be used carefully.
Start here if...
Shade & Tint Generator
building a color scale
The Shade and Tint Generator helps create lighter and darker versions of a base color. This is useful when one color is not enough for a real interface.
Start here if...
Colordle Color Search
you are playing the daily Colordle game and want a faster way to search likely color names
The Colordle Color Search page is built first as a helper for the daily Colordle game, where you are trying to guess the hidden color from a huge range of possibilities. It also works as a fast scan-first browser for the full color-name-list package when you want to compare names, hex values, and actual swatches in one continuous view.
Example workflows
Color tools are most useful when they are not treated as separate one-off utilities. A strong workflow combines exploration and testing.
Workflow 1: Build a website palette
- 1. Start with the palette generator.
- 2. Pick a primary color and supporting accents.
- 3. Use the shade and tint generator to create lighter and darker variations.
- 4. Use the contrast checker to test text and button combinations.
- 5. Use the color converter to copy final values into CSS.
Workflow 2: Make a button accessible
- 1. Choose a button background color.
- 2. Test white text and dark text against it.
- 3. Adjust the color if the contrast is too low.
- 4. Generate hover and active states with shades and tints.
- 5. Copy the final CSS-ready values.
Workflow 3: Create a branded hero section
- 1. Pick a primary brand color.
- 2. Generate a gradient using related colors.
- 3. Check any text placed over the gradient.
- 4. Use neutral colors for body text and supporting layout.
- 5. Save or copy the final color values.
Core workflow
Generate → Compare → Convert → Test → Refine
A palette generator can give you a starting point, but the palette still needs contrast testing. A contrast checker can tell you whether text is readable, but it does not decide whether the palette feels balanced. A converter produces exact values, but it does not decide whether those values are good choices.
Practical guidance
Before using a color system in a real project, check more than the base swatches. Final colors should be stress-tested in realistic UI and content conditions.
- body text contrast
- button text contrast
- hover and active states
- disabled states
- focus indicators
- background and card contrast
- light mode and dark mode behavior
- color meaning that is not communicated by color alone
Related learning
Color Theory Basics: Hue, Saturation, Value, and Harmony
A practical introduction to hue, saturation, value, harmony, and how those ideas show up in real design work.
Read guideRelated learning
RGB, HEX, HSL, and HSV: Understanding Common Color Formats
Understand the common color formats used across design tools, CSS, graphics workflows, and browser utilities.
Read guideRelated learning
Color Accessibility and Contrast: Designing Readable Interfaces
Learn how contrast ratios, perception, and interface choices affect readability and accessibility.
Read guideFAQ
Questions people usually ask next
Are ColorDB tools browser-based?
Yes. The tools are designed to run directly in the browser and are useful for quick color decisions without needing a full design application.
Should I trust generated palettes immediately?
No. Generated palettes are starting points. Test contrast, readability, and real layout usage before using a palette in production.
Which tool should I start with?
Start with the palette generator if you need ideas. Start with the converter if you already have a color value. Start with the contrast checker if readability is the main concern.
Can I use these tools for CSS?
Yes. Many of the tools are designed to produce CSS-friendly values such as HEX, RGB, HSL, gradients, and shade/tint values.