HSL Color Schemer

The color schemer is a tool to generate a series of colors from a base color according to a specified scheming method. A scheming method in turn specifies which color properties will be manipulated and how additional colors will be calculated. Generally, in color scheming the value of a single color property is modified to generate additional colors. In contrast, the color blender considers all properties of a color model to calculate intermediate colors. Either approach increases your options to generate a beautiful color set.

To begin color scheming, simply select a scheming method and then adjust the base color to your individual liking, or vice versa. Most scheming methods have additional settings you can adjust and experiment with. Furthermore, you have the possibility to apply scheming methods on two different color models: HSL and pHSL. pHSL ("Painter's HSL") is an adjusted HSL color model which has been developed with the intention to potentially pick more aesthetically appealing colors.

If you switch to pHSL, please bear in mind that all colors, including the base color, get converted and the values of the color picker interface do not correspond to the current base color you are seeing. If you'd like to check and possibly adjust values of certain colors, click on the link to the HSL Color Picker or the Color Converter at the bottom right of the interface.

About the Scheming Methods

Complementary Color Scheme
Calculates the color at the opposite side of the color wheel (+ 180° hue). For a "true" complementary color you also need to mirror lightness.

Split Complementary Color Scheme
Calculates two colors which are mirrored at the complementary color's position with the specified distance in the settings box. You can set the hue distance to 120° to get a so called triadic color scheme.

Double Complementary Color Scheme
First calculates a second color shifted by the specified hue distance. Then calculates the complementary color for both. You can set the hue distance to 90° to get a so called tetradic color scheme.

Linear Scheming
Adds/Subtracts the specified value from a color component to calculate a series of colors. You can use the by saturation, by lightness or by luminance method to generate a so called monochromatic color scheme.

Usage Tips

Saving your colors:

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