Color Palette from Image
Create a color palette by picking colors from an image
How to create a color palette from an image
- Click Select Image and choose a photo from your device, paste an image URL, or pick one from the built in Unsplash library.
- The tool reads the photo and pulls out its most common colors automatically.
- Drag any color point around the image to fine tune the exact shade you want, or add and remove points to change which colors you capture.
- Set the number of colors anywhere from 2 to 10, depending on how detailed you want the palette.
- Click any swatch to copy its hex code, or open the palette in the editor to save and refine it.
Why pull a color palette from an image?
A photo already holds a color scheme that works, because the light, the subject, and the setting were balanced in the moment it was taken. Lifting those colors gives you a palette that feels natural together, which is much harder to build from a blank screen. Designers, marketers, and artists use image based palettes to keep a project visually consistent and grounded in something real.
- Build brand colors from a product photo, a storefront, or a logo.
- Match a website or app design to a hero image or mood board.
- Plan a room, an outfit, or an event around a single inspiration photo.
- Pull reference colors for illustration, painting, or 3D work.
- Set the tone for a presentation, a social graphic, or a printed piece.
Tips for extracting the best colors from a photo
- Start with a sharp, well lit photo. Blurry or dark images tend to give muddy results.
- Images with a clear subject and a few strong colors read better than busy scenes.
- Move the color points onto the areas that matter to you, since the most common color in a photo is not always the one you want.
- Drop the color count to 3 to 5 for a usable design palette, and raise it to capture small accent colors.
- Try a few crops or angles of the same scene to see which mix you like best.
What to do with your palette next
Once you have a set of colors you like, keep building. Open it in the color palette generator to adjust hues and lock in your favorites, check pairs in the contrast checker so your text stays readable, or blend two shades together with the color mixer. You can also turn a single color into a full range with the color shades generator, or fade your colors into a smooth background using the gradient maker.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use the extract palette from image tool?
This easy to use tool instantly will turn any photo into a color palette. Simply click "Select Image" to pick an image from your device and have its color palette extracted. You can also change the number of colors extracted from the image ranging between 2 or 10 colors. After colors are displayed you can click any color to copy its hex color value.
After you found a palette you like you can click open in editor to modify the palette or save it later to your ColorKit account.
How does this tool work?
This color palette from image tool uses color thief to extract dominate colors from any image. Extracting colors from images is a great way to get inspiration for your designs. You can find interesting images to use from your phone's camera roll or on a site like Unsplash. Best of all your image is never uploaded to our server so you can ensure complete privacy.
Additionally you can click create collage with your palette on top of your image to be exported as a PNG.
Can I get the hex codes from an image?
Yes. Every color the tool finds shows its hex code, and clicking a swatch copies that value to your clipboard. Open the palette in the editor if you also want RGB, HSL, or other formats.
How many colors can I pull from one image?
You can extract anywhere from 2 to 10 colors. Most design palettes work best with 3 to 5, while larger sets are handy for illustration and data visualization.
Is the tool free, and do I need an account?
The tool is completely free and works with no sign up. A free ColorKit account is optional, and only needed if you want to save palettes to come back to later.
What image formats can I use?
Common web formats all work, including JPG, PNG, WebP, and GIF. You can upload a file, paste an image URL, or choose a photo from Unsplash inside the tool.
Can I extract colors from a screenshot or logo?
Yes. Any image works, including screenshots, logos, product photos, and artwork. Drag the color points onto the exact areas you want to capture.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The tool runs in your browser on phones, tablets, and computers, so you can pull colors straight from your camera roll.