Color Guides
Practical guides to color theory, palettes, formats, and accessibility, each linking to the tools that apply them.
Color Theory Basics A practical introduction to color theory: the color wheel, hue, saturation, and value, and how warm and cool colors shape a design. How to Choose a Color Palette A step-by-step approach to choosing a color palette: start with one color, apply a harmony, check contrast, and build a usable scale. HEX, RGB, and HSL Explained Understand the three most common web color formats — HEX, RGB, and HSL — how they relate, and when to use each. WCAG Color Contrast Learn how WCAG contrast ratios work, what AA and AAA require, and how to fix low-contrast text. Complementary Colors What complementary colors are, why they create strong contrast, and how to use them without overwhelming a design. Analogous Colors How analogous color schemes work, why they feel calm, and how to add contrast when you need it. Triadic Colors How triadic color schemes balance vibrancy and harmony, and how to use three evenly spaced hues effectively. Colors for Dark Mode Practical advice for adapting a palette to dark mode: avoid pure black, desaturate, and re-check contrast. Accessible Color Palettes Build palettes that work for everyone: meet contrast thresholds and never rely on color alone to convey meaning. CSS Color Formats A reference for the color formats you can use in CSS, including alpha, modern syntax, and when each is useful.